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Bacterial Infections


Bacteria are microscopic, single-cell organisms that live almost everywhere. Bacteria live in every climate and location on earth. Some are airborne while others live in water or soil. Bacteria live on and inside plants, animals, and people. The word "bacteria" has a negative connotation, but bacteria actually perform many vital functions for organisms and in the environment. For example, plants need bacteria in the soil in order to grow.
The vast majority of bacteria are harmless to people and some strains are even beneficial. In the human gastrointestinal tract, good bacteria aid in digestion and produce vitamins. They also help with immunity, making the body less hospitable to bad bacteria and other harmful pathogens. When considering all the strains of bacteria that exist, relatively few are capable of making people sick.
The symptoms of a bacterial or viral infection depend on the area of the body that is affected. Sometimes the symptoms of the two can be very similar. For example, runny nose, cough, headache, and fatigue can occur with the common cold (virus) and with a sinus infection (bacteria). A doctor may use the presence of other symptoms (such as fever or body aches), the length of the illness, and certain lab tests to determine if an illness is due to a virus, bacteria, or some other pathogen or disease process.

Bacterial skin infections 

are usually caused by gram-positive strains of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus or other organisms. Common bacterial skin infections include:
  • Cellulitis causes a painful, red infection that is usually warm to the touch. Cellulitis occurs most often on the legs, but it can appear anywhere on the body.
  • Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles that causes red, swollen bumps that look like pimples. Improperly treated pools or hot tubs can harbor bacteria that cause folliculitis.
  • Impetigo causes oozing sores, usually in preschool-aged children. The bullous form of impetigo causes large blisters while the non-bullous form has a yellow, crusted appearance.
  • Boils are deep skin infections that start in hair follicles. Boils are firm, red, tender bumps that progress until pus accumulates underneath the skin.
Bacterial skin infections are treated with oral or topical antibiotics depending on the strain causing the infection.

Foodborne Bacterial Infections

Bacterial infections are one cause of foodborne illness. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, chills, and abdominal pain are common symptoms of food poisoning. Raw meat, fish, eggs, poultry, and unpasteurized dairy may harbor harmful bacteria that can cause illness. Unsanitary food preparation and handling can also encourage bacterial growth. Bacteria that cause food poisoning include:
  • Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) is a diarrheal illness often accompanied by cramps and fever.
  • Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum) is a potentially life-threatening bacterium that produces powerful neurotoxins.
  • Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 is a diarrheal (often bloody) illness that may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, and abdominal cramps.
  • Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) causes fever, muscle aches, and diarrhea. Pregnant women, elderly individuals, infants, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk for acquiring this infection.
  • Salmonella causes fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Symptoms typically last between 4 and 7 days.
  • Vibrio causes diarrhea when ingested, but it can also cause severe skin infections when it comes in contact with an open wound.

Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Infections

Many sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by harmful bacteria. Sometimes, these infections aren't associated with any symptoms but can still cause serious damage to the reproductive system. Common STDs caused by bacterial infections include:
  • Chlamydia is an infection in men and women caused by an organism called Chlamydia trachomatis. Chlamydia increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.
  • Gonorrhea, also known as "clap" and "the drip," is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Men and women can be infected. Gonorrhea also increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women.
  • Syphilis can affect men and women and is caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum. Untreated, syphilis is potentially very dangerous and can even be fatal.
  • Bacterial vaginosis, which causes an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the vagina (the CDC does not consider this a STD; see second text reference).

Other Bacterial Infections

Harmful bacteria can affect almost any area of the body. Other types of bacterial infections include:
  • Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection of the meninges, the lining of the brain.
  • Otitis media is the official name for an infection or inflammation of the middle ear. Both bacteria and viruses can cause ear infections, which commonly occur in babies and small children.
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the bladder, urethra, kidneys, or ureters.
  • Respiratory tract infections include sore throat, bronchitis, sinusitis, and pneumonia. Bacteria or viruses may be responsible for respiratory tract infections. Tuberculosis is a type of bacterial lower respiratory tract infection.


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