The body is home to thousands of bacteria which play an important role in keeping you healthy. A bacterial infection occurs when these bacteria reproduce out of all proportion and out of control, invading other parts of the body, or when harmful bacteria are introduced into your body. An infection can be mild, but it can also turn into something serious. Read on to learn how to recognize one and treat it accordingly.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Medical Treatments
Step 1. Pay attention to the symptoms
Here are the symptoms of potential bacterial infections that may require medical treatment:
- Fever, especially with severe pain in the head, neck, or chest.
- Breathing difficulties or chest pain.
- Cough that persists for more than a week.
- A rash or swelling that does not go away.
- Increased pain in the urinary tract (which may be when urinating, in the lower back or lower abdomen).
- Pain, swelling, warmth, pus discharge, or red streaks extending from a wound.
Step 2. Make an appointment with your doctor
The only sure way to tell which bacterial infection you have is to see a doctor. If you are concerned about having an infection, call your healthcare provider and schedule a visit right away. Your doctor may take a blood test, urine culture, or swab of the infected area to determine what type of infection is affecting you.
Keep in mind that only a doctor can diagnose a bacterial infection. If you think this is the case for you, take note of the symptoms and go to your doctor to find treatment as soon as possible
Step 3. Ask your doctor about the different types of antibiotics
If you ask him for details about the different types of antibiotics that are available, it will be easier for you to understand which one he will want to prescribe.
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Broad-spectrum antibiotics fight a wide range of bacteria. These are capable of killing gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, so your doctor may prescribe one of these medications if you're not sure what type of infection you have.
Amoxicillin (Augmentin), tetracycline and ciprofloxacin are examples of broad-spectrum antibiotics
- Medium-spectrum antibiotics target a group of bacteria. Among these the most common are penicillin and bacitracin.
- Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are indicated for the treatment of a specific type of bacteria. Polymyxins fall into this small category of antibiotics. Treatment becomes much easier and more effective when your doctor knows the type of bacterial infection that has affected you.
Step 4. Follow the instructions given by your doctor on how to treat the infection
It is the practitioner who chooses the type of antibiotic that best suits your situation and the type of specific bacteria that caused the infection. Remember that there are many different types of antibiotics and only your doctor can prescribe one that's right for you.
Make sure you know exactly how much antibiotic you need to take and when. Some medications must be taken with food, others must be taken in the evening, and so on. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you don't understand the dosage instructions on the leaflet
Step 5. Make sure you always take the full course of antibiotics that are prescribed for you
If you don't finish the treatment, the infection can get worse and the bacteria can even become resistant to the drug, making it more difficult to treat subsequent infections.
Even if you feel better, you need to take all antibiotics to kill the bacteria responsible for the infection that are still present in the body. If you stop the treatment too soon, you will never be able to completely eradicate the infection
Part 2 of 5: Cleaning a Wound to Prevent a Bacterial Infection
Step 1. Avoid a skin infection by properly cleaning and wrapping the wound right away
Prompt and adequate first aid treatment is essential to try to prevent a bacterial infection; however, you should never try to heal yourself if the wound is serious and deep. If it is large, fleshy, or bleeds a lot, you need to seek immediate medical help.
Step 2. Wash your hands before dressing a wound
If you have dirty hands when treating the injured area, you increase the chances of causing a bacterial infection. Then wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for 20 seconds and dry them thoroughly. Wear clean latex or vinyl gloves, if available.
Avoid latex gloves if you are allergic to this material
Step 3. Maintain some pressure on the wound until it stops bleeding
If the bleeding is severe, however, you should see your doctor immediately. do not try to heal a deep wound on your own; go to the emergency room or call 118.
Step 4. Clean the wound with warm running water
Hold the affected area under a gentle stream of water to clean it. Do not use soap on the wound unless it is visibly dirty. In this case, gently clean everything around the lesion with a mild soap. However, be sure not to use hydrogen peroxide to cleanse the area, as it can interfere with the healing process.
If you notice any debris or dirt in the wound, you can try to remove it with tweezers previously sterilized with alcohol. If you don't feel like doing this, see a doctor for treatment
Step 5. Apply an ointment
An antibiotic ointment, such as Neosporin, promotes faster healing and helps keep the infection under control. Gently apply the cream to the affected area after cleaning it.
Step 6. Bandage the wound
If it's just a small scratch, leave it out in the open; if, however, it is a deeper lesion, you must cover it with sterile gauze. A non-stick bandage secured in place with medical tape is the best solution for larger wounds, although simple large patches are fine. Be sure not to put the sticky side of the bandage or plaster on the wound, as it may reopen when you remove the dressing.
Change the gauze once a day if it is dirty. A good time to replace it is when you shower
Step 7. Check for signs of infection
If the wound is red, swollen, drains pus, you see red streaks radiating from the area, or just gets worse, you need to call your doctor.
Part 3 of 5: Preventing Bacterial Food Poisoning
Step 1. Keep your hands clean
Before touching food, you should always wash your hands with antibacterial soap and water for 20 seconds. Dry them well with a clean, dry cloth. If you have to handle raw meat, wash your hands after handling it to avoid cross-contamination with other foods or surfaces.
Step 2. Wash your food thoroughly
Wash raw fruit and vegetables thoroughly before eating them; organic foods also need to be washed. Use an antibacterial cleaner on surfaces that come into contact with raw foods to kill potentially dangerous bacteria.
Use a different cutting board for each type of food. You need to get a cutting board for fruit and vegetables and another for raw meats, to avoid cross-contamination
Step 3. Make sure you cook the food well
Follow the instructions carefully when preparing raw foods to cook them properly. Use a meat thermometer to make sure you are cooking the meat to the right temperature.
Part 4 of 5: Preventing the Spread of Bacterial Infections
Step 1. Wash your hands
Meticulous and frequent hand washing (especially after touching your face, mouth, nose, when you are sick, after touching another sick person or after changing a baby's diaper) can drastically reduce the number of germs you can expose yourself to.
Wash your hands with warm (or hot) soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Make sure you clean between your fingers and under your nails as well. At the end, rinse them with running water
Step 2. Cover your face if you cough or sneeze
Avoid spreading bacteria to others when you are sick by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. This way you keep the germs in and avoid spreading them throughout the room and potentially on other people present.
- Always wash your hands after coughing or sneezing, if you put your hand in front of your face, before touching another person or common surfaces such as doorknobs or light switches.
- You can also cover your mouth or nose with the crease of your elbow (the inside). This can help limit the spread of germs without the need to wash your hands every 2 minutes when you are sick.
Step 3. Stay at home while you are sick
You can limit the spread of germs by staying away from others while you have an ongoing infection. If possible, stay home from work (or do work from home via the computer for that day); your colleagues will certainly appreciate your shrewdness.
Step 4. Keep your children at home when they are sick
Summer recreation centers and schools often teem with infectious germs. It is very common for infections to be transmitted from one child to another in these environments, causing illness in children and stress in parents. You can avoid this by keeping your child at home when he is sick. This will likely heal faster thanks to your care and prevent other children from getting sick from any infections.
Step 5. Keep your vaccines up to date
Make sure that both you and your children have all recommended vaccines for their age and geographic area. Vaccines help prevent infections and diseases before they occur, which is definitely preferable to any treatments to be implemented later.
Part 5 of 5: Knowing the Most Common Bacterial Infections
Step 1. Learn about staph infections
Staphylococci, better known simply as "staphylococci", are gram-positive cocci arranged in clusters. The term "gram" of gram positive refers to the bacterium's reaction to gram staining when viewed under a microscope. The term "coconut" indicates the shape of the bacterium, seen under a microscope, which resembles that of a sphere. These types of bacteria normally enter the body through a cut or wound.
- Staphylococcus aureus is the most common type of staph that causes infections. This type can cause pneumonia, food poisoning, skin infections, blood poisoning, or toxic shock syndrome.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes an infection that is difficult to treat, as it does not respond to some antibiotics and the strain is thought to have developed as a result of antibiotic abuse. For this reason, many doctors do not prescribe antibiotics unless absolutely necessary.
Step 2. Learn about strep infections
Streptococci are gram-positive cocci with a chain arrangement and are a fairly common type of bacteria. These cause sore throat, pneumonia, infectious cellulitis, impetigo, scarlet fever, rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis, meningitis, otitis media, sinusitis and many other infections.
Step 3. Learn about Escherichia coli
Often referred to simply as E. Coli, it is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium and is found in the feces of animals and humans. There are several large groups of E. Coli bacteria. Some strains are harmful, but for the most part they are not. THE. Coli can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and many more.
Step 4. Learn about Salmonella infections
Salmonella is a gram-negative rod-shaped bacterium that can affect and damage the digestive tract. It can cause serious illness and usually requires prolonged antibiotic treatment. Raw or undercooked meat, eggs, and poultry can contain salmonella.
Step 5. Learn about Haemophilus influenzae infections
H. influenzae is a gram-negative bacillus that is transmitted by air, so it is highly contagious. It can cause epiglottis infection, meningitis, otitis media and pneumonia. It can also cause a severe infection resulting in permanent disability. It could even become fatal.
The H. influenzae is not covered by the common flu vaccine that acts on the normal influenza virus, but most children are vaccinated against this bacterium in infancy (the vaccine is called "anti-Hib")
Advice
- If you are allergic to a specific type of antibiotic, wear a bracelet or keep a document indicating your allergy with you at all times, in the event that this information cannot be communicated in an emergency.
- Use an alcohol-based antibacterial gel if you can't wash your hands right away, but don't use it as a regular substitute for washing with water.
- If you have frequent contact with someone who has a bacterial infection, be sure to wash your hands and avoid physical contact as much as possible so that you stay safe.
Warnings
- Watch for signs of an allergic reaction when taking antibiotics. A reaction can develop at any age, regardless of previous exposure to a particular drug. These symptoms may include skin rashes (especially hives or hives) and difficulty breathing. Call your doctor if you are concerned about having a reaction and stop taking the antibiotic right away.
- Children under one year of age who take broad-spectrum antibiotics may have a higher risk of developing asthma. However, keep in mind that if your doctor prescribes this drug for your child, it is probably because the benefits outweigh the risks. In some circumstances, a broad spectrum antibiotic may be the only way to fight an infection.
- In adults taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, bacteria can become resistant to the drugs.
