Pathogenic bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that can cause disease. This article deals with human pathogenic bacteria.

Overview

Although the vast majority of bacteria are harmless or beneficial, a few pathogenic bacteria can cause infectious diseases. The most common bacterial diseases include pneumonia, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis. Bacteria can often be killed by antibiotics, but some types are resistant to antibiotics and are therefore more difficult to treat.

Types of Pathogenic Bacteria

Pathogenic bacteria can be grouped into three categories based on their response to gaseous oxygen. These are:

• Aerobic bacteria: These bacteria thrive in an oxygenated environment. Examples include Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Anaerobic bacteria: These bacteria cannot survive in the presence of oxygen. Examples include Clostridium difficile and Bacteroides fragilis.
• Facultative anaerobic bacteria: These bacteria can survive in both oxygenated and non-oxygenated environments. Examples include Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Disease Mechanisms

Pathogenic bacteria cause disease in two ways: by invading tissues and by producing toxins.

• Invasion: Some bacteria cause disease by invading and damaging tissues. For example, Mycobacterium tuberculosis invades the lungs, causing tuberculosis.
• Toxin production: Some bacteria produce toxins that damage tissues. For example, Clostridium difficile produces toxins that damage the intestines, causing diarrhea and inflammation.

Treatment

Treatment of bacterial infections usually involves antibiotics. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the development of antibiotic resistance, making some bacterial infections more difficult to treat.

Prevention

Prevention of bacterial infections can be achieved through good hygiene practices, vaccination, and the use of antibiotics when necessary.

See Also

• Bacteria
• Infectious disease
• Antibiotics
• Antibiotic resistance

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