Abstract
For many people, there has been increased concern about infectious diseases as it is considered to be one of the biggest health threats. There have been studies on bacteria, their causes, and spread. From an analysis, bacteria reproduce through the process of binary fusion. In this process, the bacterium, which in this case is a single cell, divides itself into two similar daughter cells. The main bacterial infections include bacterial skin infections, bacterial infection is one that causes foodborne illness and STDs. They are often treated through the use of antibiotics. However, the right treatment is vital because misuse or overuse of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance which can, in turn, be dangerous and often increase the risk of death in patients.
Introduction
For many years there have been concerns about the increasing spread of infectious disease mainly because the public is becoming more aware and concerned about infectious diseases as one of the biggest public health threats. Bacteria are microscopic organisms that can multiply at a rapid rate. Once in the body, the release toxins that make people feel ill. However, it is vital to note that not all bacteria result in infection because they are found everywhere. Some common examples of bacterial infections include food poisoning, cholera, typhoid, and whooping cough. Infectious or bad bacteria often cause illness because they rapidly produce and reproduce toxin that mainly mutates or kill cells. Bacteria are also considered to be self-sufficient.
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How Bacteria Infection Replicates
Generally, bacteria reproduce through the process of binary fusion. In this process, the bacterium, which in this case is a single cell, divides itself into two similar daughter cells ( Monack, 2016) . The process of binary fission starts when the DNA of the bacterium replicates or divides into two. Then the bacteria cell stretches and splits into two daughter cells. Each of the daughter cells has identical DNA as compared to the parent cell. In this case, every daughter cell is considered to be a clone of the parent cell.
In cases where the condition is favorable, especially if the nutrients and temperature are available then some bacteria such as Escherichia coli can even divide after every twenty minutes. It means that after seven hours one bacterium can generate approximately 2,097,152 bacteria. Therefore, it is the reason why individuals can become ill at a fast rate when pathogenic microbes invade the body.
Symptoms of Bacterial Infection
There are many bacteria that are harmless to individuals and some are even beneficial. However, there is some harmful strain of bacteria that result in infection. Some of the illnesses that result from harmful bacteria include food poisoning, meningitis, and Pneumonia. The symptoms that are often seen include fatigue, headache, and cough which occur with the common cold.
The specific bacterial infection includes the bacteria skin infections which are often triggered by the gram-positive strains of Streptococcus and Staphylococcus or other forms of organisms. Some of the commonest bacteria skin infections include cellulitis that results in a painful, red infection that has a warm touch. The next is Folliculitis whose symptom include a red, swollen bump like pimples. The third one is impetigo has the symptom of causing oozing sores, especially for preschool-ages children ( Chan, 2006) . Finally, boils result in firm, tender bumps that are often painful. Bacterial skin infections are often treated using topical or oral antibiotics that depend on the strain that is triggering the infection.
Another bacterial infection is one that causes foodborne illness. The symptoms mainly include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, chills, fever, and vomiting. Raw meat, eggs, poultry, fish, and unpasteurized dairy can result in harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning. In addition, unsanitary food handling and preparation can encourage the growth of bacteria. The bacteria that cause food poisoning include; Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni ), Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157: H7 , Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), Salmonella, and Vibrio. They can be treated through the use of antibiotics.
Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are bacterial infections that are caused by harmful bacteria. In some cases, the infections are not related to any symptoms, but can still have serious harm to the reproductive system. Some of the commonest STDs that are caused by the bacteria infection include; Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Bacterial vaginosis . Just like other infections, Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs are treated using Antibiotics.
Antibiotics work by disrupting the process that is necessary for the growth of the bacterial cell and proliferation. For patients, it is vital to take antibiotics as prescribed. Failure to follow the prescription can make the bacterial infection worse. However, it is vital to note that antibiotics do not treat viruses but in some cases, they are prescribed in viral illness with the aim of preventing any secondary bacterial infection ( Carey, 2006) . In many cases, secondary infections are as a result of individuals being compromised or weakened because of an existing illness. It is worth noting that the misuse or overuse of antibiotics can result in antibiotic resistance. It is a situation where the bacterium is not sensitive to the medication that is needed to eliminate the infection. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections can be dangerous and often increase the risk of death in patients.
Conclusion
The spread of infectious disease is an issue mainly because people are becoming more aware and concerned about infectious diseases as one of the biggest public health threats. The main bacterial infections include bacterial skin infections, bacterial infection is one that causes foodborne illness and STDs. They are often treated through the use of antibiotics. However, bacteria culture together with antibiotic sensitivity determination, and various other tests can be used so that they can be able to identify the bacterial strains and also to help in determining the most appropriate course of treatment.
References
Carey, C. W. (2006). American scientists . New York: Facts on File.
Chan, V. L., Sherman, P. M., & Bourke, B. (2006). Bacterial genomes and infectious diseases . (Springer e-books.) Totowa, N.J: Humana Press.
Monack, D. M., Sastalla, I., & Kubatzky, K. F. (2016). Bacterial Exotoxins: How bacteria fight the immune system . s.l. Frontiers Media SA.
