Bacteria that cause disease. Diseases caused by bacteria. Types of bacteria. What infections are called bacterial?

Today, thousands of bacteria are known - some are beneficial, while others are pathogenic and cause disease. Many terrible diseases: plague, anthrax, leprosy, cholera and tuberculosis are bacterial infections. Well, the most common are meningitis and pneumonia. It is important not to confuse bacterial infections with viral ones and to know the symptoms and treatment options.

What infections are called bacterial?

Bacterial infections represent a huge group of diseases. They have one thing in common: bacteria. They are the most ancient and numerous microorganisms.

Airways;
intestines;
blood;
skin covering.

Separately, bacterial infections are distinguished in children and hidden ones in women and men.

Bacterial respiratory tract infections often develop after a cold, as a complication. The immune system becomes weaker, and pathogenic bacteria that previously did not manifest themselves in any way begin to multiply. Respiratory bacterial infections can be caused by the following pathogens:

staphylococci;
pneumococci;
streptococci;
whooping cough stick;
meningococci;
mycobacteria;
mycoplasmas.

Upper respiratory tract infection usually manifests itself as bacterial sinusitis, pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis (more commonly known as tonsillitis). In this case, a pronounced focus of inflammation is always observed.
To bacterial infectious diseases of the lower respiratory tract include bacterial bronchitis and.

Bacterial intestinal infections often occur due to unwashed hands, consumption of poorly cooked, improperly stored or expired products. In most cases the problem is caused by:

shigella;
staphylococci;
cholera vibrios;
typhoid bacillus;
salmonellosis.

Bacterial ones are the most dangerous because their symptoms (for example, diarrhea) are not always taken seriously.

Intestinal bacterial infections The following diseases are most often manifested:

salmonellosis;
typhoid fever;
dysentery.

In women and men, bacterial infections affect both genitourinary system. Most often, women are exposed to bacterial vaginosis (gardnerellosis), cystitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis. Men suffer from urethritis, chlamydia, bacterial balanitis or prostatitis.

In children Most often there are viral infections, which are complicated by bacterial ones due to the weakening of the body during the period of illness. In most cases, the following viral diseases are observed in childhood:

measles;
rubella;
piggy;
chicken pox.

Children who have had such infections receive strong immunity and are no longer exposed to these diseases. But if during the period of illness the child had contact with harmful bacteria, then it is quite possible for complications to develop in the form of bacterial pneumonia, otitis media, etc.

How to distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one

Bacterial and viral infections are often confused. They may have the same symptoms and even similar results in diagnostic tests.

It is imperative to differentiate these infections, since the drugs needed to treat them are completely different.

There are several signs by which you can determine whether a bacterial or viral infection is present in the body:

Duration. Symptoms of a viral infection usually subside quickly (in about 7-10 days), but a bacterial infection can last more than a month.
Slime color. If the disease is accompanied by sputum discharge or nasal mucus, then you should pay attention to their color. The virus is usually accompanied by discharge of a clear color and liquid consistency. Bacterial infections are more likely to have a dark greenish or yellow-green discharge. You should not rely entirely on this sign.
Temperature. Infections of both types are usually accompanied by fever, but with bacterial diseases it is higher and characterized by a gradual increase. With a virus, this indicator behaves in the opposite way - it gradually decreases.
Routes of infection. Among bacterial infections, only some diseases are transmitted by contact, and for the virus this is the main route of spread.
Development and localization. Bacterial infections tend to develop slowly, but the virus immediately manifests itself clearly. In the first case, the lesion is isolated, that is, the disease is localized in a certain area. A viral disease affects the entire body.
Test results. One of the main indicators is the level of leukocytes and lymphocytes. Leukocytes increase with infection of any etiology, but with a bacterial infection, it is neutrophils that are increased(this is a special type of leukocyte). With a viral infection, leukocytes may be elevated, but most often they are lowered (including neutrophils) (for example, with influenza, viral hepatitis, measles, rubella, mumps, typhoid fever, leukocytes are necessarily below normal), but here with a viral infection, an increase in the number of lymphocytes is necessarily observed, and an increase in monocytes may also be observed (with, for example), therefore, the result of a general blood test is assessed comprehensively. Another analysis is a bacteriological study of biological fluid (discharge from the eye, ear, sinuses, wounds or sputum, for example). This test will identify the causative agent of the bacterial infection.

Symptoms of bacterial infections

There are many possible bacterial infections. Each has its own characteristics, and therefore the set of symptoms varies.

The incubation period for bacterial infections varies widely. Some pathogens actively reproduce in a few hours, while others require several days.

Signs of a bacterial infection depend on what part of the body it affects. Intestinal diseases in this case are manifested by the following symptoms:

elevated temperature and fever;
abdominal pain;
vomiting;
diarrhea.

These symptoms are generalized, as individual diseases manifest themselves differently. For example, with typhoid infection, not only the stomach hurts, but also the throat and joints.

Children's bacterial infections are characterized by a wider range of symptoms. The thing is that almost always a bacterial infection is a continuation of a viral one. For example, a child gets sick, but under certain conditions he develops a bacterial infection as a complication of the initial disease, so the clinical picture is erased.

But still the diseases are expressed by the following symptoms:

high temperature (more than 39°C);
nausea and vomiting;
coating on the tongue and tonsils;
severe intoxication.

If, after an improvement in health, a deterioration in the patient’s condition is observed, then most often this indicates the development of complications of a bacterial nature after a viral illness.

Bacterial infections in the upper respiratory tract also often appear after a virus infection, when immunity decreases. Infection is expressed in the following symptoms:

deterioration of health;
pronounced lesion;
purulent discharge;
white plaque in the throat.

Bacterial infection in women affecting the genitourinary system has the following symptoms:

vaginal discharge - color and consistency depends on the causative agent of the infection;
itching and burning;
unpleasant odor;
painful urination;
pain during intercourse.

In men, the development of bacterial infection is similar:

pathological discharge from the urethra;
unpleasant odor of discharge;
painful urination, itching, burning;
discomfort during sexual intercourse.

Diagnostics

For bacterial infections, certain tests are necessary. They are used to differentiate bacterial lesions from viral ones, as well as to determine the pathogen. The course of treatment depends on the test results.

Bacterial infections are diagnosed mainly through laboratory tests. The following methods are usually used:

Blood test with leukocyte formula. With a bacterial infection, an increased number of neutrophils is observed. When the number of band neutrophils is increased, they speak of an acute infectious disease. But if metamyelocytes or myelocytes are detected, then the patient’s condition is characterized as dangerous and requires urgent medical attention. With the help of such diagnostics it is possible to identify the nature and stage of the disease.
Analysis of urine. Shows whether the urinary system is affected by bacteria, and is also necessary to determine the severity of intoxication.
Bacteriological study with antibiogram. Using this analysis, the type of infectious agent is determined and what means can be used to kill it (the so-called sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics is determined). These factors are important for prescribing the correct therapy.
Serological study. Based on the identification of antibodies and antigens that interact in a specific way. For such studies, venous blood is taken. This method is effective when the pathogen cannot be isolated.

Dr. Komarovsky talks in detail about how laboratory diagnostics are performed to distinguish a bacterial infection from a viral one:

Laboratory tests are the main direction of diagnosing bacterial infections. In some cases, additional examinations are required:

X-ray. Performed to differentiate specific processes in individual organs.
Instrumental diagnostics. Ultrasound or laparoscopy is most often used. These methods are needed to study internal organs for specific lesions.

Prescription of correct treatment, its effectiveness and the risk of complications directly depend on the timeliness of diagnosis. You should consult a doctor at the first alarming symptoms - at the appointment the patient is always prescribed tests.

General approach to treating bacterial infections

The treatment of bacterial infections is guided by general principles. This implies a certain therapy algorithm:

Eliminate the cause of the disease.
Cleanse the body of toxins.
Heal organs affected by infection.
Reduce the severity of symptoms and alleviate the condition.

Treatment of a bacterial infection involves mandatory use of antibiotics, and if it is an intestinal infection, then also compliance.

As for taking medications, broad-spectrum drugs include penicillin antibiotics and 3rd generation cephalosporins. Read more about antibiotics prescribed for genitourinary infections), and for intestinal infections, but basically the treatment is carried out with the same drugs, just the dosage, duration and frequency of taking the medicine may be different.

There are a lot of antibiotics, each group of such drugs has its own mechanism of action and purpose. Self-medication at best will not bring any effect, and at worst it will lead to neglect of the disease and a number of complications, so treatment should be prescribed by a doctor depending on the nature of the disease. The patient is only obliged to follow all the doctor’s instructions and not to arbitrarily reduce the course of antibiotics and the prescribed dosage.

Let's summarize what has been said. There are a lot of bacterial infections, and the effectiveness of their treatment directly depends on identifying the causative agent of the disease. Most people are carriers of certain bacteria, but the development of infection is provoked only by certain factors. This can be avoided through preventive measures.

Next article.

Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause infection. Most bacteria are harmless or even beneficial, but some are pathogenic. One high-burden bacterial disease is tuberculosis, caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which kills about 2 million people per year, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Pathogenic bacteria contribute to the development of other globally significant diseases such as pneumonia, which can be caused by bacteria such as Streptococcus and Pseudomonas, and foodborne illnesses, which can be caused by bacteria such as Shigella, Campylobacter and Salmonella. Pathogenic bacteria also cause infections such as tetanus, typhoid fever, diphtheria, syphilis and leprosy. Pathogenic bacteria are also responsible for high infant mortality rates in developing countries. Koch's postulates are the standard establishing the relationship between the causative microbe and the disease.

Diseases

Each type of bacteria exhibits a specific effect and causes symptoms in infected people. Some, or even most, people infected with pathogenic bacteria have no symptoms. People with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to pathogenic bacteria.

Pathogenic susceptibility

Some pathogenic bacteria cause illness under certain conditions, such as when they enter the skin through a cut, during sexual activity, or when immune function is weakened. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria are part of the normal microflora of the skin and are usually present in healthy skin or in the nasopharyngeal area. However, these species have the potential to initiate skin infections. They can also cause sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. These infections can become quite serious and provoke a systemic inflammatory response, leading to severe vasodilation, shock, and death. Other bacteria are opportunistic pathogens and cause disease primarily in people suffering from immunosuppression or cystic fibrosis. Examples of these opportunistic pathogens include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cenocepacia, and Mycobacterium avium.

Infections in a specific tissue

Bacterial pathogens often cause infections in certain areas of the body. Other pathogens are generalists. Bacterial vaginosis is caused by bacteria that alter the vaginal flora, causing overgrowth of bacteria that crowd out the lactobacilli species that maintain a healthy vaginal microbial population. Other nonbacterial vaginal infections include: yeast infection (candidiasis) and trichomonas (trichomoniasis). Bacterial meningitis is a bacterial inflammation of the meninges, that is, the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Bacterial pneumonia is a bacterial infection of the lungs. Urinary tract infections are predominantly caused by bacteria. Symptoms include urgency and frequency to urinate, pain while urinating, and cloudy urine. The main causative agent is Escherichia coli. Urine is usually sterile, but contains many salts as well as excretory products. Bacteria can ascend to the bladder or kidneys, causing cystitis and nephritis. Bacterial gastroenteritis is caused by pathogenic intestinal bacteria. These pathogenic species are usually different from the usually harmless bacteria of normal intestinal flora. But other strains of the same species can be pathogenic. It is sometimes difficult to distinguish them, as is the case with Escherichia. Bacterial skin infections include:

Mechanisms

Nutrients

Iron is a substance essential for humans and also for the growth of most bacteria. To obtain free iron, some pathogens secrete proteins called siderophores, which remove iron from transport proteins by binding even more tightly to the iron. Once the iron-siderophore complex is formed, it is captured by siderophore receptors on the surface of the bacteria, and the iron is then introduced into the bacteria.

Direct damage

Once pathogens attach to host cells, they can cause direct damage as pathogens use host cells to obtain nutrients and produce waste products. As pathogens multiply and divide within host cells, the cells typically break down and intercellular bacteria are released. Some bacteria, such as E. coli, Shigella, Salmonella, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, can induce uptake into host epithelial cells in a process resembling phagocytosis. The pathogens can then destroy the host cells as they pass through and are expelled from the host cells through a process of reverse phagocytosis, allowing them to enter other host cells. Some bacteria can also enter host cells by secreting enzymes and using their own motility; such penetration itself may cause damage to the host cell.

Toxin production

Toxins are poisonous substances that are produced by certain microorganisms and are often the main contributing factor to the pathogenic properties of microorganisms. Endotoxins are lipid regions of lipopolysaccharides that are part of the outer membrane of the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxins are released when bacteria are lysed, which is why after treatment with antibiotics, symptoms may initially worsen as the bacteria die and release their endotoxins. Exotoxins are proteins produced within pathogenic bacteria as part of their growth and metabolism and are most common in gram-positive bacteria. Exotoxins are released when bacteria die and the cell wall breaks down. Exotoxins have very specific effects on body tissue and function, destroying specific parts of the host cell or inhibiting certain metabolic functions. Exotoxins are among the most dangerous substances known. Just 1 mg of botulinum exotoxin is enough to kill one million guinea pigs. Diseases caused in this way are often caused by small amounts of exotoxins rather than by the bacteria themselves.

Treatment

Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics, which are classified as bactericidal if they kill bacteria, or bacteriostatic if they only prevent the growth of bacteria. There are many types of antibiotics and each class inhibits a process whose pathogen is different from the pathogen in the host. For example, the antibiotics chloramphenicol and tetracycline inhibit the bacterial ribosome, but not the structurally different eukaryotic ribosome, so they have selective toxicity. Antibiotics are used both in the treatment of human diseases and in intensive agriculture to promote the growth of animals. Both applications can contribute to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance in bacterial populations. Phage therapy can also be used to treat some bacterial infections. Infections can be prevented by antiseptic measures such as sterilizing the skin before using a syringe needle and proper care of catheters. Surgical and dental instruments are also sterilized to prevent bacterial contamination. Disinfectants such as bleach are used to kill bacteria or other pathogens on surfaces to prevent contamination and further reduce the risk of infection. Bacteria in food are killed by cooking to temperatures above 73 °C (163 °F).

List of the most famous pathogenic bacteria

	2015/03/16 20:30	Natalia
	2016/07/08 18:25
	2014/11/26 10:17
	2016/07/30 12:58
	2015/06/19 12:07	Natalia
	2015/07/06 16:56	Natalia
	2016/05/29 13:48
	2016/07/02 14:32
	2017/05/23 13:11
	2016/07/31 21:47
	2016/08/17 12:34
	2017/02/18 21:18
	2016/08/03 14:08

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.

Preventive measures

As a preventative measure, it is necessary to strengthen the immune system. 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

Despite the active development of medicine, the problem of infectious, including bacterial, diseases is very relevant. Bacteria are found at every step: in public transport, at work, at school. Incredible quantities of them populate door handles, money, computer mice, and mobile phones. There are no places on our planet where these microorganisms do not exist. They are found in the salty waters of the Dead Sea, in geysers whose temperature is more than 100ºC, in ocean waters at a depth of 11 km, in the atmosphere at an altitude of 41 km, even in nuclear reactors.

Classification of bacteria

Bacteria are tiny creatures that can only be seen with a microscope, averaging 0.5-5 microns in size. A common feature of all bacteria is the absence of a nucleus, which makes them classified as prokaryotes.

There are several ways of their reproduction: binary fission, budding, thanks to exospores or fragments of mycelium. Asexual reproduction involves the replication of DNA in a cell and its subsequent division in two.

Depending on their shape, bacteria are divided into:

cocci - balls;
rod-shaped;
spirilla - crimped threads;
vibrios are curved rods.

Fungal, viral and bacterial diseases, depending on the mechanism of transmission and location of the pathogen, are divided into intestinal, blood, respiratory tract and external integument.

The structure of bacteria and infections

The cytoplasm is the main part of the bacterial cell in which metabolism occurs, i.e. synthesis of components, including those affecting its pathogenicity, from nutrients. The presence of enzymes and protein catalysts in the cytoplasm determines metabolism. It also contains the “core” of the bacterium - a nucleoid, without a specific shape and externally not limited by a membrane. The entry of various substances into the cell and the removal of metabolic products occurs through the cytoplasmic membrane.

The cytoplasmic membrane is surrounded by a cell membrane, which may contain a layer of mucus (capsule) or flagella that facilitate the active movement of the bacterium in liquids.

Bacteria feed on a variety of substances: from simple substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonium ions, to complex organic compounds. The vital activity of bacteria is also influenced by the temperature and humidity of the environment, and the presence or absence of oxygen. Many types of bacteria are able to form spores to survive in unfavorable conditions. Elevated temperature or pressure, ultraviolet radiation, and certain chemical compounds have bactericidal properties that are widely used both in medicine and in industry.

Properties of pathogenicity, virulence and invasiveness

Pathogenicity is the ability of a certain type of microorganism to cause bacterial infectious diseases. However, in the same species its level can be in a wide range, in which case they speak of virulence - the degree of pathogenicity of the strain. The pathogenicity of microorganisms is due to toxins that are products of their vital activity. Many pathogenic bacteria are incapable of reproducing in macroorganisms, but they secrete strong exotoxins that cause the disease. Therefore, there is also the concept of invasiveness - the ability to spread in a macroorganism. Thanks to the properties described above, under certain conditions, highly pathogenic microorganisms can cause fatal diseases, and weakly pathogenic bacteria can simply be present in the body without causing any harm.

Let's look at some human bacterial diseases, the list of which is too long to describe everything in one article.

Intestinal infections

Salmonellosis. About 700 species of serovars of the genus Salmonella can act as pathogens. Infection can occur through water, household contact, or nutrition. The proliferation of these bacteria, accompanied by the accumulation of toxins, is possible in various food products and persists if they are insufficiently heat treated during cooking. Also, domestic animals, birds, rodents, and sick people can act as a source of infection.

The consequence of the action of toxins is an increase in the secretion of fluid into the intestine and increased peristalsis, vomiting and diarrhea, which lead to dehydration of the body. After passing the incubation period, which lasts from 2 hours to 3 days, the temperature rises, chills, headache, colicky pain in the abdomen, nausea, and after a few hours - frequent watery and foul-smelling stools. These bacterial diseases last approximately 7 days.

In some cases, complications may occur in the form of acute renal failure, infectious-toxic shock, purulent-inflammatory diseases or thrombotic complications.

Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fevers A and B. Their causative agents are S. paratyphi A, S. paratyphi B, Salmonella typhi. Routes of transmission - food, water, infected objects, source - a sick person. A feature of the disease is summer-autumn seasonality.

The duration of the incubation period is 3 - 21 days, most often 8 - 14, after which there is a gradual increase in temperature up to 40ºC. Fever is accompanied by insomnia, headache, lack of appetite, pale skin, roseola rash, enlarged liver and spleen, bloating, stool retention, and less commonly, diarrhea. Arterial hypotension, bradycardia, delirium, lethargy also accompany the disease. Possible complications are pneumonia, peritonitis, intestinal bleeding.

Food poisoning. Its causative agents are opportunistic microorganisms. Pathogenic bacteria enter the body from food products that are either not subject to heat treatment or have undergone insufficient heat treatment. Most often these are dairy or meat products, confectionery products.

The incubation period lasts from 30 minutes to a day. The infection manifests itself in the form of nausea, vomiting, watery stools up to 15 times a day, chills, abdominal pain, and fever. More severe cases of the disease are accompanied by low blood pressure, tachycardia, convulsions, dry mucous membranes, oliguria, and hypovolemic shock. The disease lasts from several hours to three days.

Dysentery. The causative agent of one of the most common intestinal infections is a bacterium of the genus Shigella. Microorganisms enter the body when ingesting contaminated food, water, through household items and dirty hands. The source of infection is a sick person.

The incubation period can range from several hours to a week, usually 2-3 days. The disease is manifested by frequent loose stools mixed with mucus and blood, cramping pain in the left and lower abdomen, fever, dizziness, chills, and headache. It is also accompanied by arterial hypotension, tachycardia, bloating, palpation of the sigmoid colon. The duration of the disease depends on the severity: from 2-3 to 7 days or more.

Escherichiosis. This disease is also called traveler's diarrhea. It is caused by Escherichia coli enteroinvasive or enterotoxigenic strains.

In the first case, the incubation period lasts from 1 to 6 days. Signs of the disease are loose stools and cramping abdominal pain, less commonly tenesmus. The duration of illness is 3-7 days with mild intoxication.

In the second case, the latent period can last up to 3 days, after which vomiting, frequent loose stools, intermittent fever and abdominal pain begin. Pathogenic bacteria largely affect young children. The disease is accompanied by high temperature, fever, and dyspeptic symptoms. Such bacterial diseases can be complicated by appendicitis, cholecystitis, cholangitis, meningitis, endocarditis, and inflammatory diseases of the urinary tract.

Campylobacteriosis. This is a common infection caused by the bacterium Campylobacter fetus jejuni, which is found in many pets. Occupational bacterial diseases in humans are also possible.

The incubation period lasts 1 - 6 days. The disease is accompanied by fever, gastroenteritis, severe intoxication, vomiting, and profuse loose stools. In rare cases, a generalized form of the disease.

Treatment and prevention of intestinal infections

As a rule, for effective treatment, hospitalization of the patient is recommended, because most of these diseases can lead to complications, as well as to reduce the risk of spreading the infection. Treatment includes several main points.

In case of intestinal infection, strict adherence to a gentle diet is necessary. List of permitted products: those that slow down intestinal motility and contain significant amounts of tannin - blueberries, bird cherry, strong tea, as well as pureed porridges, slimy soups, jelly, cottage cheese, crackers, steamed fish and meat dishes. Under no circumstances should you eat fried or fatty foods, raw vegetables and fruits.

In case of toxic infections, gastric lavage is mandatory to remove pathogens from the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Detoxification and rehydration are carried out using oral administration of glucose-saline solutions into the body.

Treatment of bacterial intestinal diseases necessarily involves normalization of stool. For this purpose, Indomethocin, calcium preparations, and various sorbents are most often used, the most accessible of which is activated carbon. Since bacterial diseases accompany dysbacteriosis, drugs are prescribed to normalize the intestinal microflora (Linex, Bifidumbacterin, etc.)

As for antibacterial agents, depending on the type of pathogen, antibiotics from the groups of monobactams, penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicols, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, polymyxins, quinolones, fluoroquinolones, nitrofurans, as well as mixed preparations of sulfonamides can be used.

To prevent bacterial diseases in humans, the list of daily activities should contain the following items: maintaining personal hygiene, careful heat treatment of necessary food, washing vegetables and fruits before consumption, using boiled or bottled water, short-term storage of perishable foods.

Respiratory tract infections

The most common respiratory tract infections are bacterial and viral infections, which are usually seasonal in nature. Bacterial and viral human diseases differ primarily in localization. Viruses affect the entire body, while bacteria act locally. The most common viral diseases are ARVI and influenza.

Bacterial diseases include the following respiratory tract infections:

Tonsillitis(angina) can be caused by both viruses and bacteria - mycoplasma, streptococcus, chlamydia (A. Haemolyticum, N. Gonorrhoeae, C. Diphtheriae). Accompanied by changes in the tonsils, sore throat, chills, headache, vomiting.

Epiglottitis. The causative agents are the bacteria S. Pneumoniae, S. Pyogenes and S. Aureus. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the epiglottis, accompanied by a narrowing of the larynx, rapid deterioration of the condition, sore throat, and fever.

Due to the severe course of the disease, mandatory hospitalization of the patient is required.

Sinusitis- inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, caused by bacteria that have entered the nasal cavity through the blood or from the upper jaw. It is characterized by localized pain at first, which then spreads, turning into a “headache”.

Pneumonia. This is a lung disease during which the alveoli and terminal bronchi are affected. Pathogenic bacteria - streptococci, staphylococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae, pneumococci, Haemophilus influenzae and Escherichia coli. The disease is accompanied by cough with sputum, fever, shortness of breath, chills, headaches and muscle pain, decreased appetite, increased fatigue, and intoxication weakness.

Treatment and prevention of respiratory tract infections

When treating infections, hospitalization of the patient is carried out only in cases of severe and advanced disease. The main remedy is antibiotics, selected individually depending on the type of pathogen. Treatment of the nasopharynx can be done using local antiseptics (Hexoral, Septifril, Stopangina, Cametona, Ingalipta). Additionally, it is recommended to resort to inhalation, physiotherapy, breathing exercises, manual therapy, and chest massage. When using combined drugs with an antiseptic and analgesic effect at the onset of the disease (preparations from medicinal plants, TeraFlu, Anti-Sore throat, Strepsils, NovaSept), there is probably no need for further use of antibiotics.

Prevention of bacterial respiratory diseases includes the following measures: walks in the fresh air, breathing exercises, preventive inhalations, smoking cessation, and the use of cotton-gauze dressings when in contact with patients.

Infections of the external integument

On human skin, which has certain properties that protect it from microorganisms, there is a huge number of peacefully existing bacteria. If these properties are violated (excessive hydration, inflammatory diseases, injuries), microorganisms can cause infection. Bacterial skin diseases also occur when pathogenic bacteria enter from the outside.

Impetigo. There are two types of disease: bullous, caused by staphylococci, and non-bullous, caused by S. aulreuls and S. Pyogenes.

The disease manifests itself in the form of red spots that turn into blisters and pustules, which are easily opened, forming thick yellowish-brown scales.

The bullous form is characterized by blisters measuring 1-2 cm. When complicated, bacterial diseases cause glomerulonephritis.

Boils and carbuncles. The disease occurs when staphylococci penetrate deeply into the hair follicles. The infection forms an inflammatory conglomerate, from which pus subsequently appears. Typical locations for carbuncles are the face, legs, and back of the neck.

Erysipelas and cellulite. These are infections that affect the skin and underlying tissues, the causative agents of which are streptococci of groups A, G, C. Compared with erysipelas, the location of cellulite is more superficial.

Typical localization of erysipelas is the face, cellulite is located on the calves. Both diseases are often preceded by trauma or skin damage. The surface of the skin is red, swollen, with uneven, inflamed edges, sometimes vesicles and blisters. Associated signs of the disease are fever and chills.

Erysipelas and cellulite can cause complications, manifested in the form of fasciitis, myositis, thrombosis of the cavernous sinus, meningitis, and various abscesses.

Treatment and prevention of skin infections

It is recommended to treat human skin bacterial diseases with local or general antibiotics, depending on the severity and type of infection. Various antiseptics are also used. In some cases, their use continues for a long time, including by healthy family members for prevention.

The main preventive measure to prevent the occurrence of skin infections is personal hygiene, the use of individual towels, as well as a general increase in immunity.

Animal infections

Mention should also be made of bacterial diseases of animals transmitted to humans and called zooanthroponoses. The source of infection are animals, both domestic and wild, from which you can become infected during hunting, as well as rodents.

Let us list the main bacterial diseases, the list of which includes about 100 infections: tetanus, botulism, pasteurellosis, colibacillosis, bubonic plague, glanders, melioidosis, ersiniosis, vibriosis, actinomycosis.