They are amazing microorganisms. They surround us everywhere, and many bacteria are beneficial to humans. Bacteria help with digestion, absorption of nutrients, production of vitamins and protection against... Conversely, a number of diseases that affect humans are caused by bacteria.

The bacteria that cause disease are called pathogenic bacteria, and they do this by producing toxic substances called endotoxins and exotoxins. These substances are responsible for the symptoms that occur in diseases associated with bacteria. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and some can be fatal. Let's look at 7 terrible and dangerous diseases caused by bacteria.

1. Necrotizing fasciitis

Streptococcus pyogenes

Necrotizing fasciitis is a serious infection most often caused by Streptococcus pyogenes ( Streptococcus pyogenes) - bacteria that usually colonize the skin and throat area. They feed on flesh and produce toxins that destroy, in particular, red and white blood cells, leading to the death of infected tissue or necrotizing fasciitis. Other types of bacteria that can also cause necrotizing fasciitis include E. coli ( Escherichia coli), Staphylococcus aureus ( Staphylococcus aureus), Klebsiella ( Klebsiella) and clostridia ( Clostridium).

People get this type of infection most often when bacteria enter the body through a cut or other open wound in the skin. Necrotizing fasciitis does not usually spread from person to person. Healthy people with a properly functioning immune system and good wound care hygiene have a low risk of developing the disease.

2. Staphylococcal infection

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of bacteria that can cause serious health problems. These bacteria have developed resistance (resistance) to penicillin antibiotics, including methicillin. MRSA is usually spread through physical contact and must penetrate the skin, such as through a cut, to cause infection.

MRSA is most often acquired as a result of a hospital stay. These bacteria are capable of sticking to various types of instruments, including medical equipment. If MRSA bacteria gain access to the body's internal systems and cause a staph infection, the consequences can be fatal. They can infect bones, joints, heart valves and lungs.

3. Meningitis

Meningococcus (Neisseria meningitidis)

Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord known as the meninges. This is a serious infection that can cause brain damage and even death. A severe headache is the most common symptom of meningitis. Other symptoms include a stiff neck and high fever. Meningitis is treated with antibiotics. It is important that antibiotics are started as soon as possible after infection to reduce the risk of death. The meningococcal vaccine may help prevent meningitis in those most at risk of developing the disease.

Pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae)

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Symptoms include high fever, cough and difficulty breathing. While a number of bacteria can cause pneumonia, the most common cause is pneumococcus ( Streptococcus pneumoniae), which prefers to settle in the respiratory tract and does not usually cause infection in healthy people. In some cases, the bacteria become pathogenic and cause pneumonia.

The infection usually begins after bacteria are inhaled and multiply rapidly in the lungs. Pneumococcus can also cause ear infections, sinus infections, and meningitis. If necessary, most types of pneumonia have a high chance of being treated with antibiotics. The pneumococcal vaccine can help prevent the disease in people who are susceptible to it.

5. Tuberculosis

Koch bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)

Tuberculosis is a common lung infection usually caused by the bacterium Koch bacillus ( Mycobacterium tuberculosis). This disease can be fatal without proper treatment. The infection spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks.

In a number of developed countries, cases of tuberculosis have increased with the rise in HIV infections due to the weakening of the immune systems of infected people. Antibiotics are used to treat tuberculosis. Isolation, which helps prevent the spread of active infection, is also a characteristic of the treatment of this disease. Treatment can be long-term, from 6 months to a year, depending on the severity of the disease.

6. Cholera

Vibrio cholerae

Cholera is an intestinal infection usually spread by food and water contaminated with Vibrio cholerae ( Vibrio cholerae). Worldwide, there are approximately 3-5 million cases of cholera each year and approximately 100,000 deaths. Most cases of infection occur in areas with poor water and sanitation. Cholera can range from mild to severe. Symptoms of the severe form include diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. The disease is usually treated by restoring fluid balance in the infected person. In more severe cases, antibiotics may be used.

7. Dysentery

Shigella

Bacillary dysentery is an inflammation of the intestines caused by bacteria from the genus Shigella ( Shigella). Like cholera, dysentery is spread through contaminated food and water. Dysentery is also spread by people who do not wash their hands after using the toilet.

Symptoms of dysentery can range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms include bloody diarrhea, high fever and pain. Like cholera, dysentery is usually treated with hydration. It can also be treated with antibiotics, depending on the severity. The best way to prevent the spread of shigella bacteria is to properly wash and dry your hands before eating, and avoid drinking local water in areas where there is a high risk of getting dysentery.

Bacteria are all around us. There are beneficial and pathogenic, i.e. pathogenic bacteria. In this article you will find some information about bacteria in general, as well as a list of the names of pathogenic bacteria and the diseases they cause.

Bacteria are everywhere, in the air, in water, in food, in soil, in the depths of the oceans, and even on the top of Mount Everest. Various types of bacteria live on the human body and even inside it. For example, many beneficial bacteria live in the digestive system. They help control the growth of pathogenic bacteria and also help the immune system fight infections. Many bacteria contain enzymes that help break down chemical bonds in the food we eat and thus help us obtain optimal nutrition. Bacteria that live on the human body without causing any disease or infection are known as colonial bacteria.

When a person receives a cut or injury that disrupts the integrity of the skin barrier, certain opportunistic organisms gain access to the body.

If a person is healthy and has a strong immune system, then he can resist such an unwanted invasion. However, if a person's health is poor, the result is the development of diseases caused by bacteria. Bacteria that cause health problems are called human pathogenic bacteria. These disease-causing bacteria can also enter the body through food, water, air, saliva and other body fluids. The list of pathogenic bacteria is huge. To start, we'll look at a few examples of infectious diseases.

Examples of infectious diseases

Streptococci

Streptococci are common bacteria present in the human body. However, some strains of streptococci can cause the development of many diseases in humans. A pathogenic bacterium such as streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) causes bacterial pharyngitis, i.e. sore throat If left untreated, sore throat can soon lead to acute rheumatic fever and glomerulonephritis. Other infections include superficial pyoderma and, worst of all, necrotizing fasciitis (a disease caused by bacteria that eat soft tissue).

Staphylococcus

Staphylococci, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, are the most common human pathogenic bacteria. They are present on the skin and mucous membranes and take every opportunity to cause superficial or systemic infection. Examples of diseases caused by these bacteria include local purulent infections of the hair follicles, superficial pyoderma, and folliculitis. Staphylococci can also lead to the development of serious infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, and wound and bone infections. In addition, Staphylococcus aureus produces certain toxins that can cause food poisoning and infectious-toxic shock.

Examples of infectious diseases also include:

This list of infectious diseases goes on and on. The following is a table from which you can learn about other infectious diseases, as well as the bacteria that cause them.

List of pathogenic bacteria

This is a list of pathogenic bacteria and examples of infectious diseases. Human pathogenic bacteria can cause a huge number of serious diseases, epidemics and pandemics. You've probably heard about the Black Plague of the Middle Ages, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis; it was the deadliest pandemic in human history. With the development of personal hygiene and cleanliness standards, the incidence of epidemics and pandemics has decreased significantly.

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Thanks to the development of antibiotics, bacterial infections are no longer as life-threatening. If you seek medical help in time, you will be able to avoid severe illnesses.

There are two types of antibiotics:

• drugs with a bactericidal effect - aimed at the complete destruction of microorganisms
• drugs with a bacteriostatic effect - aimed at stopping the growth and reproduction of bacteria

An infected person may be given antibiotics orally (tablets) or, in particularly severe cases, intramuscularly or intravenously (injections).

Antibacterial drugs can often cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, while taking an antibiotic, antihistamines are prescribed. In case of severe allergies, the drug should be replaced. If the antibiotic gives a lot, then it is not suitable. The doctor may prescribe another one.

Recovery from a bacterial disease can be of several types:

• complete – all pathogens of the disease are completely removed from the body
• laboratory – according to the results of laboratory tests, no pathogenic microorganisms were identified
• clinical – no symptoms of the disease were detected

If treatment is carried out in a timely manner, then complete recovery occurs without the development of any dangerous complications.

Preventive measures

It is necessary as preventive measures. If a person has a strong immune system, then many infectious diseases will not be dangerous for him. If the disease does develop, it will be mild and recovery will come quickly.

To strengthen the immune system, you need to walk more, eat right, and carry out hardening procedures. Food should include fruits and vegetables, which contain large amounts of vitamins and other beneficial substances.

As hardening procedures, you can use a contrast shower or dousing with cold water. You can regularly visit the steam room and swimming pool. You need to spend at least two hours a day in the fresh air. If this is not possible, then at least on the weekends you should breathe air.

Physical exercise perfectly strengthens the body. You can do gymnastics in the morning or run. You should visit the gym at least three times a week.

You should definitely avoid contact with people who are already sick. If contact cannot be avoided, then a gauze bandage must be put on the face. You need to wash your hands thoroughly after visiting a patient; it is better to use antibacterial soap for this purpose.

Another important preventive measure is vaccination. It is necessary to get vaccinated before traveling to exotic countries. Vaccinations are also required for children.

Bacterial infections are varied, so you should be attentive to your health and immediately consult a doctor at the first manifestations of the disease.

Oct 29, 2016 Violetta Doctor

The cause of the development of various diseases in adults and children can be both various viruses and bacteria. In fact, viral pathologies and bacterial infections have many similarities, so it is important to diagnose the nature of the disease in a timely manner. This is due to the fact that the treatment of viral and bacterial diseases is carried out using various methods. It is important to know the signs of a bacterial infection, because it is treated with antibiotics.

Bacteria are microorganisms that are characterized by a certain cell structure. They have a poorly defined nucleus with various organelles that are covered with a membrane. If stained correctly, the bacteria can be viewed under a light microscope.

In fact, bacteria are present in large numbers in the environment, but not all of them pose a threat to human health. Certain types of bacteria live freely in the human body and do not cause any pathologies. Some bacteria can enter humans in various ways and provoke the development of complex diseases. The manifestation of certain symptoms is determined by the components of the bacterial cell. This means that living microbes release toxins that cause poisoning of the body as a result of disruption of its immune system.

A common pathogen in childhood are conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, the localization of which is the respiratory system.

Signs of a bacterial infection

The entire process of development of a bacterial disease can be divided into several stages, each of which is accompanied by the appearance of certain symptoms:

1. Incubation period. At this stage, active reproduction of bacteria occurs and their preservation in the human body. Typically, no characteristic symptoms appear during the incubation period. Typically this period lasts from several hours to 2-3 weeks.
2. Prodromal period. During this period, general symptoms of the disease appear, and usually the patient complains of general malaise and high body temperature.
3. The height of the disease, that is, the pathology is actively developing and the infectious process reaches its peak.
4. The bacterial disease enters the healing stage and the patient’s condition noticeably improves.

Various bacteria that enter the human body may be accompanied by the appearance of different symptoms. The site of infection can be one organ or the entire body. If a pathogenic microorganism enters the human body, it does not immediately cause the development of the disease. Infection usually occurs without the appearance of pronounced symptoms.

For a long time, an adult or child can only be a carrier of infection and many microorganisms live in the body for years and do not manifest themselves in any way. Their active life activity can be caused by the impact on the body of such negative factors as severe hypothermia, stressful situations and infections of viral origin.

In children, when a bacterial infection develops in the body, the following signs may appear:

• rise in body temperature above 39 degrees
• attacks of nausea and vomiting
• severe intoxication of the body
• frequent headaches
• formation of white plaque on the tonsils and tongue
• the appearance of rashes of various types

Often bacterial infections affect the female body and cause the development of pathologies of the genitourinary system. Women may experience the following diseases:

• trichomoniasis
• yeast infection
• gardnerellosis

If there is a change in the vaginal microflora, this causes the development of vaginitis. The cause of this pathological condition may be taking medications for a long time, douching and the penetration of infection into the female body during sexual intercourse. Bacterial infections in women are accompanied by the following symptoms:

• different colors and consistency
• development of itching and burning sensations
• pain during
• discomfort during sexual intercourse

With the development of a disease such as trichomoniasis, a woman may experience yellow-green or gray discharge.

Diagnostic methods

The main method of identifying infections of this nature in children and adults is to carry out. For research, material containing bacteria is collected from the patient.

If there is a suspicion of pathology of the upper respiratory tract, a sputum analysis is performed.

After this, the research material is placed in a special environment, after which the result obtained is assessed. Thanks to this study, it is possible not only to identify bacteria, but also to determine their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.

If a bacterial infection is suspected, the patient is tested, and this analysis is one of the most important.

The fact is that the progression of a bacterial infection in the patient’s body is accompanied by an increase in the level due to an increase in the number of neutrophils. Typically, with bacterial diseases, there is an increase in the number of band neutrophils, and metamyelocytes and myelocytes may also increase.All this leads to a decrease in the relative level of white blood cells, but quite high.

Features of treatment

When diagnosing bacterial infections in children, treatment is carried out using antibacterial drugs. Thanks to them, it is possible to prevent the progression of pathology and avoid health problems. It should be remembered that treatment of bacterial infections is carried out only under the supervision of the attending physician, and it is best to avoid any self-medication.

Treatment of bacterial infections is not so easy because the body has to cope with a large number of microorganisms. Bacteria adapt too quickly to their living conditions and new drugs have to be invented. Bacteria can mutate, so many antibacterial drugs may not work on them.

In addition, the development of the same disease can be caused by various bacteria, which can only be eliminated with the help of a specific antibacterial agent.

Typically, complex therapy is used to combat bacterial infections, which includes:

• Elimination of the cause of pathology using bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibacterial drugs.
• Cleansing the patient’s body of toxins that accumulate during the progression of the infection. In addition, it is important to cure organs that have been damaged by infection.
• Carrying out symptomatic treatment to alleviate the patient’s condition and reduce the severity of symptoms. For infections of the upper respiratory system, cough medications are prescribed, and for gynecological diseases, local antibiotics are indicated.

Useful video - How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one:

When treating bacterial infections, antibiotics can be taken in the form of tablets or also injected into the body intramuscularly. The growth of bacteria can be inhibited by:

• Tetracycline
• Chloramphenicol

You can destroy harmful fauna using antibiotics such as:

• Penicillin
• Rifamycin
• Aminoglycosides

Among penicillins, the following antibacterial drugs are considered the most effective:

• Amoxicillin
• Amoxicar
• Augmentin
• Amoxiclav

Today, thanks to antibacterial treatment, it is possible to get rid of various types of infections. It is important to remember that only a specialist should prescribe drugs, as bacteria can become resistant to drugs. It is necessary to resort to taking antibacterial drugs at the very beginning of the development of the disease, which will prevent the spread of infection throughout the body and speed up the healing process.

Taking antibacterial drugs when fighting bacteriological infections can cause irreversible changes in the body. In addition, some patients are prone to developing allergic reactions to certain antibiotics and this must be taken into account when prescribing medication.In order to prevent bacterial infections from entering the human body, certain precautions are recommended. To do this, you need to maintain hygiene, avoid being in places with large crowds of people, and also increase your body’s defenses.