Bacteria must enter your body for them to cause an infection. So you can get a bacterial infection through an opening in your skin, such as a cut, a bug bite, or a surgical wound. Bacteria can also enter your body through your airway and cause infections like bacterial pneumonia. Other types of bacterial infections include urinary tract infections (including bladder and kidney infections) and dental abscesses, as well as infections caused by MRSA, Group B Streptococcus, and C. Difficile. Infections can also occur in open wounds, such as pressure ulcers (bed sores). Pressure ulcers are caused by constant pressure on the skin for extended periods or rubbing. For example, a senior who is bedridden could develop sores on the coccyx (tailbone) area, elbows, heels, or anywhere else where there is constant contact with a bed or adapted “easy chair.”

The name of one type of infection, septic arthritis, may be confusing to some people because it is not sepsis, despite its name. Septic arthritis is an infection in the joint fluid. However, this type of infection can also lead to sepsis. It can be caused by bacteria, as well as other microbes.

Sometimes bacterial infections are “secondary infections.” For example, if you contract COVID-19 – a virus – your body is in a weakened state and could also develop bacterial pneumonia. You would then be fighting both a viral infection and a bacterial one.

Bacterial infections present in many ways, depending on the part of the body affected. If you have bacterial pneumonia, you may experience

• Fever
• Cough, with phlegm
• Shortness of breath
• Sweating
• Shaking chills
• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Chest pain with breathing

If you have a urinary tract infection, you may have some of these symptoms:

• Sudden and extreme urges to void (pass urine)
• Frequent urges to void
• Burning, irritation, or pain as you void
• A feeling of not emptying your bladder completely
• A feeling of pressure in your abdomen or lower back
• Thick or cloudy urine – it may contain blood
• Fever

The common element with most bacterial infections are:

• Fever
• Chills
• Pain or discomfort in the affected area

But if the infection is in a joint, that joint and the surrounding area will likely hurt; if you have a sinus infection, you will probably have a headache and foul nasal discharge, and so on.

Not all infections can be prevented, but the chances of spreading these infections can be greatly reduced by following these tips:

• Wash your hands often, particularly if you are in a healthcare facility.
• Keep wounds clean and covered.
• Avoid sharing personal items, such as razors.
• Eat a healthy diet. Malnutrition, not consuming enough nutrients for your needs, can lower your body’s ability to fight

Most often, treatment for a bacterial infection is with antibiotics. They could be taken orally (by pill, liquid, or capsule), injection, drops, topical (cream or ointment), or intravenously (by IV). The treatment may be very short, or it could go as long as several weeks, depending on the type of infection and how it reacts to the antibiotics. Sometimes, the infection will not go away, and your doctor may have to try a different type of antibiotic.