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Monday 17 October 2022
Saturday 5 February 2022
Bacterial Infection And Safety
Introduction:
Bacteria are unicellular organisms that can only be seen with the use
of a microscope. A bacterial infection is a propagation of a dangerous bacteria
strain within or on the body. While some
bacteria are harmful, the greater percentages of bacteria are helpful. It is only one percent of bacteria that are
harmful while the rest ninety-nine percent are useful.
A few bacteria assist in food digestion, destroy disease-causing cells,
and provide the vitamin requirements of the body. Bacteria are as well utilized
in the production of healthy foods like yogurt and cheese. For example,
Lactobacillus acidophilus, a safe bacterium that lives in the intestines
assists in the digestion of food, helps to wipe out several disease-causing
organisms and supply nutrients to the body. Good bacteria boost the body’s
immune system and make it more difficult for the body to harbor bad bacteria and
other disease-causing organisms
It is only comparatively few strains of bacteria that are capable of
causing infections and making people sick. They reproduce rapidly and most of
them discharge toxins which can cause damage to the body tissue. Examples of
bacteria that cause infections are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.
Some bacteria can directly invade and damage tissues.
A number of infections caused by bacteria are:
•
Strep throat
•
Tuberculosis
•
Urinary tract
infections
•
Pneumonia
•
Meningitis, food
poisoning and many more
Bacteria can infect every part of the body. Bacteria exist in three fundamental shapes:
rod-shaped bacteria known as bacilli, spherical shaped bacteria known as cocci,
or helical shaped bacteria known as spirilla.
Bacteria survive in every climate and place on earth. Some are airborne
whereas others live in water or soil. Bacteria live on and inside plants,
animals, and people.
Examples of bacterial infections
Pharyngitis
Bacterial infections in the throat are known as pharyngitis. This
results in the swelling and infection of the pharynx, or the backside of the
throat.
What you can do to minimize the possibility of getting
throat infection are:
•
Wash your hands
after being in a public place or after being close to someone who is suffering
from a respiratory condition.
•
Clean your hands
after blowing your own nose or taken care of a child with a runny nose and/or a
sore throat.
•
Do not eat with
the same plates or cutleries or drink with the same cup that has been used by
anyone suffering from a sore throat or throat infection.
•
Wash the toys a
toddler with pharyngitis uses for playing with hot soapy water, rinse well, and
then dry carefully.
•
Immediately
discard all used tissue paper
•
Don’t kiss or
share eating dishes with an individual suffering from flu, cold, mononucleosis,
or any bacterial infection.
•
Avoid smoking and
stay away from every smoke sources.
•
Make use of a
humidifier if the air in your home is dry.
•
Keep your neck
warm with a scarf during cold seasons to eliminate the possibility of creating
a breathing ground for bacteria.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects the lung. It can as
well be caused by viruses or fungi. The pneumonia infection is usually severe
and would result in death. A certain group of people faces a higher risk of
developing pneumonia and must carefully engage in preventive measures.
Examples are:
•
Smokers
•
People who
recently suffered from a respiratory infection like flu, cold, or laryngitis
•
People who have
sickness that affects their ability to swallow like stroke, dementia, or
Parkinson’s disease
•
People who have
severe lung problems like cystic fibrosis, COPD, or bronchiectasis
•
Individuals who
suffer from other severe health conditions like heart disease, liver cirrhosis,
or diabetes
•
Individuals who of
late had surgery or a physical trauma
•
Individuals who
have weak immune system as a result of some health conditions or specific
medications.
How to prevent the occurrence of pneumonia infection
Things you can do stay away from pneumonia infection
include the following:
•
Get a flu
injection annually
•
Get pneumococcal
pneumonia vaccine if you are an adult at risk
•
Stop smoking
cigarette products particularly cigarettes
•
Wash your hands
after blowing your nose, using the restroom or caring for the sick or handling
raw foods
•
Avoid touching
your face and nose.
Aspiration pneumonia can happen if you gulp food or liquids through a
wrong pipe. Try always to eat in an upright position and feed others when they
are in an upright position. Look after your health given that pneumonia can be
contacted after suffering from other respiratory infections.
Ear infection
The inner ear infection is most common in children. They are usually
excruciating and can result in other health issues. You can prevent or minimize
the occurrence of ear infection in your child if you do the following:
•
Do not smoke at
home in the presence of children. Ear infections can easily be contacted by
children that are exposed to the smoky environment.
•
Breastfeed your
baby as an infant. Breastfeeding boosts the immune system of a child and
minimizes the occurrence of ear infection.
•
Avoid feeding your
child with a bottle while he or she is lying down. It can result in an ear
infection.
•
Limit exposing
your child to people who are sick. Wash your child’s hand always and keep it
clean.
Swimmer’s ear or outer ear infection
The swimmer’s ear infection affects the outer ear canal. It is
motivated by the leftover water in the outer ear. This produces a warm, moist
environment that is conducive to the growth of bacteria. This condition is
referred to as acute external otitis or otitis externa.
Otitis media
Otitis media is the infection or inflammation of the middle ear. The
infection can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. It is common for babies
and small children.
How to stay safe from the risk of swimmer’s ear
•
Dry your ear after
swimming and bathing.
•
Wipe your outer
ear with a soft towel or cloth. Bend your head to one side and let the water
drain out.
•
Wipe the ear canal
with a hair dryer on the lowest setting and keeping it not less than one foot
off the head.
•
Do not insert
foreign objects in the ear like cotton swabs, paper clips, or hairpins.
•
Place cotton balls
in your ears when you use irritating products like hair sprays and hair dyes.
Bacterial meningitis Infection
Bacterial meningitis is a chronic infection of the meninges, which is
the lining of the brain. The research found that from 2003 to 2007, there were
four thousand, one hundred instances of bacterial meningitis annually and these
include five hundred instances of death every year. Antibiotic treatments boost
the rates of survival, lowers the risk of meningitis mortality to less than
fifteen percent. However, it can be prevented with a vaccine. The following
steps will assist you to minimize the risk of bacterial meningitis:
•
Frequent wash of
hands
•
Do not exchange
drinks, eating utensils, lip balms, or toothbrushes with another person
•
Boost your immune
system by sleeping between seven to eight hours every day. Drink not less than
sixty ounces of water daily. Get thirty minutes of exercise daily with a
multivitamin and eat a balanced diet.
•
Get bacterial
meningitis vaccines
Some forms of bacterial meningitis can be prevented with
vaccines.
Bacterial meningitis is an airborne disease. It is therefore essential
to stay far from individuals suffering from bacterial meningitis and to put on
a face mask.
Respiratory tract infections
Examples of respiratory tract infections are a sore throat, bronchitis,
sinusitis, and pneumonia. Respiratory tract infections can be caused by either
bacteria or virus. Tuberculosis is a lower respiratory tract infection caused
by bacteria.
Sepsis Bacteria infection
Septicemia or sepsis infection is a dangerous infection of the blood
caused by bacteria. When bacteria are growing in the blood, it can also infect
other organs of the body like the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and spleen.
•
Various forms of
infections can cause sepsis; infections of the skin, lungs, urinary tract, and
tummy. It can as well be a primary blood infection.
•
People who are at
higher risk of suffering from sepsis infection are people with a weak immune
system, infants and children, the aged, individuals with severe illnesses like
diabetes, cancer, liver disease or HIV/AIDS, and individuals who have suffered
from serious physical trauma or serious burn.
•
Sepsis can as well
be prevented by limiting your exposure to things that can cause other key
bacterial infections, by boosting your immune system and managing any chronic
medical condition that you are suffering from.
Skin bacterial infections
Skin bacterial infections are commonly caused by gram-positive strains
of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other pathogens. The most widespread
bacterial skin infections are:
•
Cellulitis which
results in a painful, red infection that is normally warm when touched.
Cellulitis frequently affects the legs, but it can affect any part of the body.
•
Folliculitis is a
bacterial infection that affects the hair follicles. It results in red, swollen
bumps that appear like pimples. Swimming pools or bathtubs that are not
sufficiently treated can contain bacteria that result in folliculitis.
•
Impetigo results
in causes discharging sores. It is common with preschool-aged children. The
bullous type of impetigo results in large blisters whereas the non-bullous type
comes with a yellow, crusted look.
•
Boils are deep
skin infections that emanate from the hair follicles. Boils are firm, red,
tender bumps that develop until pus gathers under the skin.
Bacterial skin infections can be treated with oral or topical
antibiotics depending on the strain that causes the infection.
Foodborne bacteria infection
Bacterial infections are one key cause of foodborne sicknesses. The
symptoms of food poisoning are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and
abdominal pain. Raw meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and unpasteurized dairy may
contain unsafe bacteria that can cause sickness. Contaminated food, poor food
preparation, and improper handling can as well boost the growth of bacteria.
Examples of foodborne bacteria infection
•
Campylobacter
jejuni (C. jejuni) is a diarrheal sickness frequently followed by cramps and
fever.
•
Clostridium
botulinum (C. botulinum) is a bacterium that causes serious injuring of one’s
health through the potent neurotoxins it produces.
•
Escherichia coli
(E. coli) O157: H7 is a diarrheal (frequently bloody) illness that may be
followed by nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.
•
Listeria
monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) results in fever, muscle aches, and diarrhea.
Pregnant women, the aged, infants, and those with weakened immune systems are
mostly affected by this infection.
•
Salmonella or
typhoid fever comes with fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms
basically last from four to seven days.
•
Vibrio results in
diarrhea when swallowed but it can as well result in acute skin infections if
it touches an open wound.
Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections
A lot of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by harmful
bacteria. Every so often, these infections don’t come with any visible symptoms
but can nevertheless cause serious harm to the reproductive system.
Common bacteria STDs include the following:
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is as well referred to as "clap" and "the
drip." It is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Men and women can contact
the infection. Gonorrhea as well boosts the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID) in women.
Characteristics of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection
•
Gonococcal
infections are second to most serious bacteria sexually transmitted diseases.
(STDs)
•
Gonococcal
infections do not show any visible symptoms in roughly fifty percent of
patients.
•
Pregnancy is a
factor that influences the development of disseminated gonococcal infection,
which typically manifests as an arthritis-dermatitis syndrome.
•
Newborns that
contracted gonorrhea during delivery through the vagina can develop severe
conjunctivitis (ophthalmia neonatorum), sepsis, arthritis, and/or meningitis.
To avoid this the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
propose that screening be conducted through the endocervical culture in women
who are at higher risk of suffering from gonorrhea high-risk pregnant women on
their first antenatal visit
The CDC recommends that all women who are at risk of suffering from the
disease condition be screened and be rescreened when they are in their third
trimester. The best screening method is the endocervical culture followed by
the NAAT and the nucleic acid hybridization test. The three tests can all be
used concurrently for diagnosis. The preferred treatment method is through the
use of one-dose IM ceftriaxone and oral azithromycin.
Syphilis
Syphilis infection affects both men and women. It is commonly caused by
a bacteria referred to as Treponema pallidum. If syphilis is not treated, it
can result in a more dangerous health condition and even result in death.
If primary or secondary syphilis is not treated in pregnant women, it
can result in roughly hundred percent of fetal infection rate. The disease can
result in stillbirth; late miscarriage; neonatal illness, death, or dormant
infection. Primary syphilis usually comes with symptoms like hard, painless red
ulcer on the vulva, cervix, or vagina. Secondary syphilis commonly comes with
symptoms like a nonpruritic skin rash that can as well occur on the palms and
soles. It is not frequently known with symptoms like fever, lymphadenopathy,
and joint pain.
The dormant stage of the infection results in no symptoms but it can
still be transmitted to a child in the womb. Tertiary syphilis can result in
cardiovascular or gummatous disease. Neurosyphilis can happen at any phase and
result to CNS or ophthalmic presentations.
Nontreponemal antibody test like RPR, VDRL usually used to detect the
occurrence of syphilis but these always show positive in pregnant woman and
must be confirmed with specific anti-treponemal antibody tests like the
microhemagglutination assay– T pallidum (MHA-TP) and the fluorescent treponemal
antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS)
An individual who has syphilis, usually have other sexually transmitted
infection particularly HIV is diagnosed, consider other sexually transmitted
diseases, especially HIV.
It is treated with a single dose of 2.4 million units of IM benzathine
penicillin when it is in the primary, secondary, and early latent syphilis, but
some experts suggest a second dose of benzathine penicillin G a week after the
first dose, particularly for a pregnant woman especially in the third trimester
or in patients with secondary syphilis.
Treatment in the late latent stage is with three doses of benzathine
penicillin. Each treatment should be given one week apart.
Chlamydia
Chlamydia infections affect men and women and are caused by an organism
known as Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia boosts the risk of pelvic
inflammatory disease (PID) in women. Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the
most widespread sexually transmitted bacterial disease in the US. It is
progressively the main cause of complications in pregnancy and the spread of
disease in infants.
Roughly seventy-five women who have C trachomatis infection are
asymptomatic.C trachomatis can result to endometritis, cervicitis, acute PID,
and acute urethral syndrome in all women and chorioamnionitis, postpartum
endometritis, and gestational bleeding in pregnant women. The infection is
usually transmitted to fetus vertically during the second stage of labor. In
neonates, C trachomatis infection frequently results in conjunctivitis
(ophthalmia neonatorum) and pneumonia.
The recommended screening methods by CDC are:
•
A nucleic acid
amplification test (NAAT) carried out on urine or an endocervical swab
specimen.
•
An unamplified
nucleic acid hybridization test, an enzyme immunoassay, or direct fluorescent
antibody test carried on an endocervical swab specimen.
•
Culture carried
out on an endocervical swab specimen.
Treatment of Chlamydia
The treatment is done with the following: Azithromycin is the first
recommended treatment. Amoxicillin can be used as an alternative. Erythromycin
is used as a second-line agent because of compliance-limiting GI adverse
conditions. Tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones are contraindicated in pregnant
women. Women who are treated should be rescreened after three weeks to ensure
therapeutic cure.
Urinary tract infection (UTI)
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects the
bladder, urethra, kidneys, or ureters. Asymptomatic bacteriuria affects ten to
pregnant women and can result in complications like pyelonephritis and
premature labor. Therefore, all pregnant women must undergo screening with
urine culture at least once daily during early pregnancy and must be treated if
they have a positive result. Significant
bacteriuria is defined as >100,000 colony-forming units (CFU) of a unicellular
organism in a clean-catch specimen.
The treatment that should be given is:
Initial antibiotic therapy after which tailoring is done to the
pathogen that developed in the urine. Sulfonamides, amoxicillin,
amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalexin, and nitrofurantoin are recommended and
sulfonamides in the last few weeks of gestation may result in kernicterus and
hyperbilirubinemia for the new born child. Trimethoprim is moderately
contraindicated during the first trimester as a result of theoretical
teratogenicity.
Nitrofurantoin may result to hemolysis in patients or fetuses with G6PD
deficiency. A 7-day regimen treats bacteriuria and acute cystitis; one-dose
therapy is less effective. Recurrent UTIs may require postcoital prophylaxis
with single-dose cephalexin or nitrofurantoin macrocrystal. The pregnant women
usually need to avoid specific antibiotics. Apart from that, the treatment is
same for both non-pregnant and pregnant patients.
Mild symptoms of the infection is treated in an outpatient setting, but
more chronic conditions need hospitalization and IV antibiotics together with
IV hydration for nausea, vomiting, and dehydration.
Bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis is a mild bacterial infection of the vagina. The
vagina normally contains both the good and bad bacteria. The good bacteria
regulate the growth of the bad bacteria. The balance between the good and bad
bacteria is normally upset in women with bacterial vaginosis. There are
insufficient good bacteria and very many bad bacteria. The CDC does not
classify bacteria vaginosis as a sexually transmitted disease.
Bacterial vaginosis is commonly a mild health issue that may disappear
on its own within a few days. But it can result in more serious issues. Thus,
it is a great idea to see your doctor and get treatment.
The cause of bacterial vaginosis
It has not yet been known the reason why the bacteria in the vagina go
out of balance. But few things that could cause it and expose one to the risk
of suffering from the condition include:
Having more than one sex partner or a new sex partner and douching. You
may likely not have bacterial vaginosis if you reduce your number of sex
partners and avoid douching or smoking.
All through the history, millions of people have died of diseases like
bubonic plague or the Black Death, which is caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria.
Bacterial infections can result in symptoms like coughing and sneezing,
fever, inflammation, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and cramping. These are
measures devised by the immune system to get rid of infectious organisms.
Bacterial vaginosis is a clinical syndrome that requires immediate medical
attention.
The key organisms that are linked to this condition are anaerobes and
Gardnerella vaginalis. The etiology of the infection is naturally
polymicrobial. The infection is asymptomatic. Women with the infection may as
well suffer from an abnormal discharge from the vagina with fish-like, stinking
odor mainly after having sex. The vaginal discharge is grey or white and may
result in other symptoms like itching near the vagina or burning sensation
while the person is urinating. It normally has Ph value of more than 4.5. The
infection may result in premature labor unresponsive to tocolytic therapy. It
can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta and can result in intrauterine
fetal death.
Diagnosis Of Bacterial Vaginosis:
Bacterial infection is confirmed with the use of Gram strain or
clinical criteria. When making use of the clinical criteria, three of the
following four conditions must be present:
A consistent, white, non-inflammatory discharge that easily coats the
vaginal wall Clue cells or vaginal epithelial cells with a speckled look as a
result of collections of coccobacilli, vaginal fluid pH above 4.5, a positive
whiff test result, a fishy odor of the vaginal discharge before or after
addition of ten percent potassium hydroxide solution. It is recommended that
the woman take oral metronidazole or clindamycin; clindamycin cream is not
recommended when the woman is in the halfway stage of her pregnancy.
Treatment of bacterial vaginosis:
There are various opinions among experts about the treatment of
bacterial infection. They are presented below:
A group of doctors recommends the use of topical creams and antibiotics
while some doctors recommend either of the treatment. The effect of antibiotics
is debated given that some reviews found that antibiotics are not effective for
preventing premature birth. Nevertheless, it was found from the same review
that antibiotics minimize the risk of pPROM (preterm premature rupture of
membranes) that occasionally result in preterm birth and infection.
To minimize the risk for to the fetus, oral antibiotics are mostly used
together with clindamycin and metronidazole.
Group B Streptococcus
Group B Streptococcus (GBS; Streptococcus agalactiae) is the most
widespread cause of severe infections in newborns and can as well affect the
mother. GBS can be present as part of normal vaginal, rectal, and oral flora.
Intrapartum transfer often happens through ascending spread or at the time of
delivery. In pregnant women, GBS causes cystitis, amnionitis, endometritis, and
stillbirth; infrequently, GBS bacteremia results to endocarditis or meningitis.
In postpartum women, GBS can result in urinary tract infections (UTIs) and
pelvic abscesses.
In newborns, the early manifestation of the infection occurs when the
baby is seven days with the average age of twelve hours after birth. It
frequently manifests as nonfocal sepsis, pneumonia, or meningitis.
Late-onset disease in neonates happens when the baby is seven to
eighty-nine years old with an average age of thirty-six days and nonfocal
bacteremia and meningitis are the most widespread symptoms. Babies who survive
the early stage suffer from potential hearing or vision loss, learning
disabilities, and other neurologic follow-ups.
The CDC thus recommends that at thirty-five to thirty-seven gestations,
all pregnant women must go through screening with a vaginal and rectal swab for
culture. The most precise site for culture is at the introitus, just inside the
hymeneal ring and rectally beyond the sphincter. The cervical, perianal,
perirectal, or perineal specimens are not recommended and speculum must not be
used for collecting culture. If the culture result is positive, the woman must
be treated if pregnant during labor.
Treatment of Group B Streptococcus
During labor and until the time of delivery, IV penicillin G or
ampicillin should be given. For patients who are allergic to penicillin,
sensitivities of the GBS isolate ought to be sent even though IV cefazolin is
the best option for patients who are allergic to penicillin at low risk for
anaphylaxis, in individuals at high risk for anaphylaxis, IV clindamycin or
erythromycin is an acceptable option.
For patients who are not susceptible to clindamycin or erythromycin,
treatment can be done with IV vancomycin. The neonate should be cautiously
monitored to check if they have symptoms of the disease.
Listeriosis
Listeria monocytogenes frequently occur in pregnant women. Roughly,
one-third of all reported cases of listeriosis happen during pregnancy,
especially during the third trimester. Infection occurs when the person
swallows a contaminated food. However, there are as well rare cases of direct
contact with infected animals and nosocomial transfer. The most common clinical
symptoms of listeriosis in pregnant women are bacteremia, frequently
asymptomatic. The occurrences of CNS Listeria infections are rare in pregnant
women unlike in the other populations. Pregnant women with the symptom as well
have a febrile illness related to influenza with fever, muscle aches, and,
irregularly, nausea or diarrhea during the bacteremic stage of the disease.
Even though maternal symptoms may be mild, listeriosis can result in
amnionitis and lead to unstructured septic abortion, premature labor with
delivery of an infected baby, or even stillbirth. Fetal infection may result from septicemia,
meningoencephalitis, or dispersed granulomatous lesions with microabscesses. A
confirmation of listeriosis can be made through a culture that shows L
monocytogenes in blood or CSF. Serologic testing is not consistent with the
diagnosis, and stool cultures are not responsive or specific.
The treatment is carried out with IV ampicillin or penicillin. Patients
who are allergic to beta-lactam allergy have to be desensitized.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the normal alternative for patients who are
allergic to penicillin but can be difficult during the first or third
trimesters for pregnant women.
Understanding certain characteristics of Bacterial
Infections
Bacteria are adaptable
Bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that can adapt to very harsh
conditions. Some bacteria have been discovered during the hot springs in
Yellowstone National park where the water is closed to near boiling temperatures
and as well deep inside the ice in Antarctica.
The spread of bacterial infections
Bacteria need specific certain nutrients to survive and reproduce. Some
of them can hi hibernate till they have found a favorable condition. A number
of bacteria attach to sugars and starches in the majorities of organic matter.
This is why bacteria are frequently found in food. Bacteria will reproduce or
duplicate themselves under the right conditions, thus, it is significant to
inhibit these conditions if you can.
Bacteria can grow on biofilms on surfaces like toilets or sinks. All
bacteria are not bad. A number of different types of bacteria live on the skin
and in the gastrointestinal tract, and most of these bacteria assist your body
to function.
When to seek help from your doctor
Bacterial infections can be risky and life-threatening. If you think
that you have not taken appropriate measures to prevent infection, it is
necessary you know when you’d need to seek help from your doctor.
You need to get in touch with your doctor if:
•
You are running
temperature of above 101 for more than three days
•
Your symptoms do
not go away without treatment after few days
•
You suffer from
pain and discomfort that needs to be treated with pain medication
•
You have a cough
that either does or does not generate sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs)
that won’t go away for over one week
•
You have your
eardrum ruptured and oozing pus
•
You have a
headache and fever that are incapable to hold your head up
•
You have been
vomiting excessively and can’t keep your fluid down
Obtain immediate medical help if you are suffering from
more serious situations
Some health conditions may require immediate emergency medical care.
You can get someone to take you to an emergency room or ring 911. You need immediate
medical attention if you are experiencing inflammation, redness, fever, and
pain; if you are experiencing weakness, sensory loss, a stiff neck, fever,
nausea or sickness, weariness, and disorientation; have seizures or have difficulty breathing or feel like you
lack the strength to keep breathing.
How you can prevent the spread of Bacteria
Specific bacteria are transmitted via close contact with infected
individuals. There are a lot of situations that boosts such contacts like:
•
Living or working with
other individuals
•
Sharing things
together
•
Caring for a sick
person
•
Frequent use of
lavatories in public places
There are specific things you can do to reduce the
transmission bacteria. These include:
Getting Vaccinated
Vaccination is the most recommended way to protect yourself and others
from bacterial infection. If there is any vaccine that is available for any
disease, get the vaccine.
Practice good hygiene
•
Constantly wash
your hands and keep it clean. Follow the recommended tips and techniques for
proper hand washing.
•
Observe the
recommended tips for coughing and sneezing to avoid contaminating the air
•
Limit your action
of touching your nose, eyes, and mouth. They are commonly the access way of
viruses and bacteria into the body
•
Try to avoid
having contact with sick people given that they may be suffering from a
contagious disease. Stay far from them and avoid touching things they have
used; cooking utensils for example.
•
Constantly clean
your surroundings together with the sanitary wares you use. For instance, clean
your counters and other surfaces that you frequently touch with your hands. Try
also to wash toilets and sinks to be able to keep them clean. Cleaning is
essential for eliminating germs on hard surfaces.
•
Clean with soap
and water or use domestic detergents
Diagnosis of Bacterial Infections
You ought to book an appointment to see your doctor if you think you
have a bacterial infection. Exceptions are the common cold, which is commonly
not life-threatening.
In a number of instances, it's not easy to determine the cause of an
infection due to the fact that many sicknesses like pneumonia, meningitis, and
diarrhea can be caused by both bacteria and viruses. However, a visit to the
doctor will help to identify the cause of the problem by listening to your
medical history and conducting a physical exam.
If required, the doctor can order a blood or urine test to assist
confirm a diagnosis, or a "culture test" of tissue to recognize
whether the cause is bacteria or viruses. In rare occasions, a biopsy of
affected tissue may be needed.
Treatment of Bacterial Infections
The discovery of antibiotics for bacterial infections is taken as one
of the most significant breakthroughs in medical history. Regrettably, bacteria
are very adaptive in nature, and excessive use of antibiotics makes bacteria
resistant to antibiotics. This has resulted in a number of severe health
issues, particularly in hospitals.
Bacterial infections and Antibiotics
Antibiotics are the standard treatment. Bacteria may as well be grouped
as gram-positive or gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria have a thick cell
wall whereas gram-negative bacteria do not. Gram staining, bacterial culture
and antibiotic sensitivity examination together with other tests are utilized
in the identification of bacterial strains and assist to determine the suitable
course of treatment.
Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections. They work
by disrupting the processes necessary for bacterial cell growth and
proliferation. It's important to take antibiotics exactly as prescribed and
follow the directions carefully. Each time you take antibiotics, you increase
the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing
antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those
antibiotics cannot cure. Failure to do so could make a bacterial infection
worse. Secondary infections occur when someone is in a weakened or compromised
state due to an existing illness.
Antibiotic Resistance
Excessive use and misuse of antibiotics have resulted in a rise in
antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria are no more
sensitive to a drug that ought to get rid of the infection.
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are very risky and boost the person's
risk of death.
Roughly, two million of people in the US suffer from
antibiotic-resistant infection annually and twenty-three thousand people die
out of the condition. The CDC estimate shows that fourteen thousand deaths are
as a result of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infections alone and that
these happen due to the fact that antibiotic suppression of other bacteria
permits C.difficile to reproduce. The majorities of death that happen as a
result of antibiotic-resistant infections happen in the hospital among those
hospitalized or among individuals in nursing homes.
Multiple questions and answers
1. The following are true of bacteria except one. Select
the correct option:
A) Bacteria are unicellular organisms that can only be seen with the
use of a microscope.
B) A bacterial infection is a propagation of a dangerous bacteria
strain within or on the body.
C) While some bacteria are harmful, the greater percentages of bacteria
are helpful. It is only one percent of
bacteria that are harmful while the rest ninety-nine percent are useful.
D) Bacteria are bigger in size than a virus and can be seen with the
naked eye, unlike a virus that can only be seen with the aid of a microscope.
Answer
The answer is D
2) The features of beneficial bacteria are the following
except one option:
A) Useful bacteria help in food digestion, destroy disease-causing
cells and provide the vitamin requirements of the body.
B) Bacteria are utilized in the production of healthy foods like yogurt
and cheese.
C) Lactobacillus acidophilus in the intestines impedes the digestion of
food, helps to wipe out several disease-causing organisms and supply nutrients
to the body.
D) Good bacteria boost the body’s immune system and make it more
difficult for the body to harbor bad bacteria and other disease-causing
organisms
Answer
The answer is C
3. These are effects of harmful bacteria except
A) The numbers of bacteria strains that cause infections and make
people sick are only very few.
B) They reproduce rapidly and most of them discharge toxins which can
cause damage to the body tissue.
C) Examples of infectious bacteria are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus,
and E. coli.
D) Bacteria can’t directly invade and damage tissues.
Answer
The answer is D
4. Bacterial infections include the following:
A) Strep throat, tuberculosis
B) Urinary tract infections
C) All of the above
D) Pneumonia, meningitis and food poisoning
5. Bacteria can infect every part of the body.
A) Bacteria exist in three fundamental shapes: rod-shaped bacteria
known as bacilli, spherical shaped bacteria known as cocci, or helical shaped
bacteria known as spirilla.
B) Bacteria survive in both humid and very dry climate.
C) Bacterial infection is airborne while others live in water or but
not on the soil.
D) Bacteria live on and inside plants, animals, and people.
Answer
The answer:
The answer is C
6. Bacterial infections in the throat are known as
pharyngitis. This results in the swelling and infection of the pharynx, or the
backside of the throat. What you can do to minimize the possibility of getting
throat infection are:
A) Wash your hands after being
in a public place or after being close to someone who is suffering from a
respiratory condition.
B) Clean your hands after
blowing your own nose or taken care of a child with a runny nose and/or a sore
throat.
C) Do not eat with the same
plates or cutleries or drink with the same cup that has been used by anyone
suffering from a sore throat or throat infection.
D) Do not have anything to do
with sick people, avoid them and stigmatize them
Answer
The answer is D
7. Pneumonia is a bacterial infection that affects the
lung. The following are true of pneumonia infection:
A) Pneumonia can only be
caused by a bacterial pathogen
B) The pneumonia infection is
normally serious and would result in death.
C) Some people are more at
risk of suffering from pneumonia and must carefully engage in preventive
measures
D) Examples of preventive
measures for pneumonia are: Get a flu injection annually and getting pneumococcal
pneumonia vaccine if you are an adult at risk
Answer
The answer is A
8. The inner ear infection is commonly painful. You can
prevent or minimize the occurrence of ear infection in your child if you do the
following except:
A) Do not smoke at home in the
presence of children. Ear infections can easily be contacted by children that
are exposed to the smoky environment.
B) Breastfeed your baby as an
infant. Breastfeeding boosts the immune system of a child and minimizes the
occurrence of ear infection.
C) The inner ear infection is
common in both adult and children.
D) Avoid feeding your child
with a bottle while he or she is lying down. It can result in an ear infection.
Answer
The answer is C
9. Examples of respiratory tract infections are a sore
throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia, the following are true of
respiratory tract infection except one:
A) Respiratory
tract infections can be caused by either bacteria or virus.
B) Tuberculosis
is a lower respiratory tract infection caused by bacteria.
C) Septicemia
or sepsis infection is a dangerous respiratory tract infection caused by
bacteria.
D) When
bacteria are growing in the blood, it can also infect other organs of the body
like the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and spleen.
Answer
The answer is C
10) Skin bacterial infections are commonly caused by
gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other pathogens.
The most widespread bacterial skin infections are except:
A) Cellulitis
B) Clostridium botulinum (C.
botulinum)
C) Folliculitis
D) Impetigo and Boils
Answer
The answer is B
11. A lot of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are
caused by harmful bacteria. Common bacteria STDs include the following except:
A) Azithromycin
B) Gonorrhea
C) Syphilis
D) Chlamydia
Answer
The answer is A
12. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial
infection that affects the bladder, urethra, kidneys, or ureters. The following is true for treatment of UTIs
in pregnant women except:
A) Asymptomatic bacteriuria
affects pregnant women and can result in complications like pyelonephritis and
premature labor.
B) All pregnant women must
undergo screening with urine culture at least once daily during early pregnancy
and must be treated if they have a positive result.
C) Initial antibiotic therapy
is given after which tailoring is done to the pathogen that developed in the
urine. Sulfonamides, amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalexin, and
nitrofurantoin are recommended medications
D) Nitrofurantoin may result
to hemolysis in patients or fetuses with G6PD deficiency.
Answer
The answer is A
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