Prevention of bacterial infections

Definition

Bacterial infections are infections that are caused by microorganisms called bacteria. Common bacterial infections include urinary tract infection (UTI), strep throat, tuberculosis (TB), Helicobacter pylori infection, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Types of Bacterial Infection

UTI is a bacterial infection of one or more parts of the urinary system. Most UTIs originate in the bladder or urethra, but they also can begin in the kidneys or ureters. Strep throat is an infection of the throat that is caused by the group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacterium. TB is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. H. pylori is a bacterium that affects the intestinal tract. It causes chronic gastritis and duodenal and gastric ulcers, and it may contribute to the development of gastric cancer. MRSA is a staph infection that has become resistant to the antibiotics that are normally used to treat staph infections.

Prevention

UTIs most commonly occur when bacteria that normally live in the intestine enter the urethra. Other sources of bacteria that can cause UTIs are sexual intercourse, urinary catheters, and obstruction, such as kidney stones or prostate problems.

No vaccine exists to prevent UTIs. However, one can take the following measures to reduce the risk for UTIs: Drink a minimum of eight glasses of water each day, urinate as soon as possible after intercourse, take showers instead of tub baths, wipe from front to back after urination or bowel movement, avoid spermicidal foams or jellies, and avoid feminine hygiene sprays or douches.

Strep throat is spread through droplets in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs or by contact with infected objects. As with UTIs, no vaccine exists for the prevention of strep throat. One should take the following measures to reduce the risk of contracting strep throat: Wash hands frequently, especially before preparing or eating food; when possible, avoid contact with people who have strep infections; and avoid sharing personal items such as drinking glasses, eating utensils, and toothbrushes.

TB is spread through droplets in the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Although a vaccine has been developed for the prevention of TB, it is not commonly used in the United States. The TB vaccine, which is also known as the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, does not always protect against TB and could cause a false-positive result in people who are later tested for TB. However, in high-risk populations, the vaccine can lower the risk of infection by up to 80 percent.

Even without the use of the BCG vaccine, there are still some things one can do to prevent the spread of TB. One method is to treat TB-infected persons before their disease becomes active. This involves regular testing of people who may be at risk. For persons who test positive for TB infection, certain medications can be prescribed by doctors to help prevent active disease. Other methods of preventing the spread of TB include covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, opening windows to ventilate rooms if the weather permits, avoiding the workplace when sick, wearing a mask around others, and avoiding close contact with family members for the first few weeks of treatment.

Though the exact mechanism of H. pylori infection remains uncertain, fecal-oral and oral-oral transmission routes are known to be common through contact with contaminated food, water, or saliva. Measures that can help prevent H. pylori infection include proper handwashing techniques, safe food handling and cooking, and avoiding sharing utensils or cups. To prevent complications of H. pylori infection, persons with symptoms of gastritis or gastric or duodenal ulcers are frequently tested for H. pylori and are treated if found to be infected.

MRSA can be acquired in hospitals and other healthcare settings, and in specific communities, such asnursing homes. MRSA infection is spread through contact with a contaminated person or object. In the healthcare setting, MRSA is frequently prevented through isolation of infected persons and through practicing standard precautions, such as handwashing and wearing protective gloves and clothing.

There are several measures that can help prevent the spread of MRSA in the community setting. These measures include covering wounds with clean, dry bandages until they have healed; frequent handwashing; not sharing personal items, such as towels, washcloths, or razors; periodic cleaning of frequently touched surfaces with disinfecting wipes; and washing bed linens in hot water.

Impact

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, UTIs account for more than eight million doctor visits each year in the United States. UTI is more common in women. About 60 percent of women and 16 percent of men get a UTI at least once during their lifetime. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2023 that the number of cases of invasive GAS had reached a twenty-year high.

The World Health Organization estimates that one-quarter of the world’s population has been infected with TB, though most of these individuals have latent TB. Between 5 and 10 percent of infected persons develop active TB, but this rate is much higher in populations with compromised immune systems. Over 1.25 million people die from TB each year.

The CDC estimates that approximately two-thirds of the world population is infected with the H. pylori bacterium, and that between 10 and 15 percent of those persons infected will develop ulcers. Furthermore, CDC statistics show that more than 70,000 people develop a serious MRSA infection each year, and more than 9,000 people die during a hospital stay related to these infections.

Bibliography

"Bacterial Infection." Cleveland Clinic, 20 Sept. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24189-bacterial-infection. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

"Bacterial Infection." Medline Plus, 27 Sept. 2024, medlineplus.gov/bacterialinfections.html. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

Bidmos, Fadil, et al. Bacterial Vaccines: Methods and Protocols. Humana Press, 2022.

Brachman, Philip S., and Elias Abrutyn, editors. Bacterial Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control. 4th ed., Springer, 2009.

Brogden, K., et al. Virulence Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogens. 5th ed., ASM Press, 2016.

"Expert Care for Bacterial Infections." UC Davis Health, 8 Nov. 2023, health.ucdavis.edu/conditions/infectious-diseases/bacterial-infections. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

Madigan, Michael T., et al. Brock Biology of Microorganisms. 16th ed., Pearson Education, 2022.

Nordenfelt, Pontus, and Mattias Collin. Bacterial Pathogenesis: Methods and Protocols. 2nd ed., Humana Press, 2023.

“Strep Throat: Signs and Treatment.” WebMD, 16 May 2024, www.webmd.com/oral-health/understanding-strep-throat-basics. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

“Tuberculosis.” Mayo Clinic, 22 Mar. 2023, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

“Urinary Tract Infection.” Mayo Clinic, 14 Sept. 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.