Bacterial Infection

Clinical answers to the most common patient questions about Bacterial Infection.

What is Bacterial Infection?

A bacterial infection happens when harmful bacteria multiply in or on the body and cause illness. Unlike viral infections, many bacterial infections respond to antibiotics — but antibiotics only work against bacteria, and taking them when they are not needed contributes to resistance.

What are the symptoms of Bacterial Infection?

Common symptoms of Bacterial Infection include fever and chills, localised pain, redness, warmth or swelling, pus or discoloured discharge, cough with coloured sputum, burning on passing urine, sore throat with white patches and fatigue and feeling generally unwell.

What causes Bacterial Infection?

Bacterial Infection is commonly caused by streptococcus species, staphylococcus species, escherichia coli, klebsiella species, salmonella and typhoid, mycobacterium tuberculosis, wound contamination and contaminated food or water.

Who is most at risk of Bacterial Infection?

Risk factors for Bacterial Infection include weakened immune system, diabetes, recent surgery or an indwelling catheter, open wounds or burns, poor sanitation or unsafe drinking water, very young or older age and prolonged hospital stay.

How is Bacterial Infection diagnosed?

Bacterial Infection is usually diagnosed using clinical examination, full blood count and inflammatory markers, culture and sensitivity testing of blood, urine, sputum or wound swab, imaging to locate a deep infection and rapid antigen testing for specific organisms.

How is Bacterial Infection treated?

Treatment for Bacterial Infection typically involves antibiotics selected for the organism and site, prescribed by a doctor, completing the full prescribed course, drainage of an abscess where present, fluids and supportive care and hospital admission and intravenous antibiotics for severe infection.

Can Bacterial Infection be prevented?

Hand hygiene, safe food and water, prompt wound cleaning, keeping vaccinations current, and taking antibiotics only when prescribed.

When should someone see a doctor about Bacterial Infection?

Seek medical advice about Bacterial Infection if you experience high fever with confusion or drowsiness, rapid breathing or breathlessness at rest, very fast heartbeat with cold clammy skin, rapidly spreading redness of the skin, not passing urine, A rash that does not fade under pressure and severe pain out of proportion to the visible problem.

What is the outlook for Bacterial Infection?

Most localised bacterial infections resolve fully with appropriate antibiotics. Outlook worsens where treatment is delayed, the infection reaches the bloodstream, or the organism is resistant to first-line antibiotics.