Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 5: Medical Assistance
• Method 2 of 5: How to clean a wound to prevent infection
• Method 3 of 5: How to prevent foodborne infections
• Method 4 of 5: How to prevent the spread of infection
• Method 5 of 5: Types of Bacterial Infections
• Tips
• Warnings

The human body contains hundreds of thousands of bacteria that play an important role in maintaining health. A bacterial infection occurs when these bacteria multiply uncontrollably and travel to other parts of the body, or harmful bacteria invade your body system. Bacterial infections can be mild or severe. Read on to learn how to identify and treat a bacterial infection.

Steps

Method 1 of 5: Medical Assistance

1. 1 Pay attention to your symptoms. The following signs may indicate that you should see a doctor:
   • fever, especially when accompanied by severe headache, neck or chest pain;
   • labored breathing;
   • a cough that lasts more than a week;
   • persistent rash or swelling;
   • increasing pain in the urinary tract (may be accompanied by pain when urinating, pain in the lower back or lower abdomen);
   • pain, swelling, warmth, purulent inflammation, or redness around the wound.
2. 2 Make an appointment with your doctor. The only sure way to determine what type of infection you have is to see a doctor. If you suspect a bacterial infection, make an appointment right away. The doctor will take a blood test, urine sample, or swab of the infected area to determine the type of infection.
   • Remember that only a doctor can diagnose a bacterial infection. If you think you are sick, write down your symptoms and see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment.
3. 3 Ask your doctor about the different types of antibiotics. By consulting your doctor on this topic, you will have a better understanding of what medications have been prescribed for you.
   • Broad spectrum antibiotics fight various types of bacteria. These antibiotics work on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, so your doctor may prescribe them if you're not sure which type of bacteria you have.
     • Amoxicillin, augmentin, cephalosporins (4th and 5th generations), tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin) are broad spectrum antibiotics.
   • Medium-spectrum antibiotics affect a specific group of bacteria. Penicillin and bacitracin are popular drugs in this class.
   • Narrow spectrum antibiotics are aimed at fighting a certain type of bacteria. This category includes polymyxins. Treatment is much easier and more effective when the causative agent of the infection is identified and the patient is accurately diagnosed.
4. 4 Follow your healthcare provider's orders. Your doctor will choose the type of antibiotic that works best against the bacteria. There are many different drugs. But only a doctor can prescribe the antibiotic you need.
   • Be sure to carefully read the dosage of the medication and when to take it. Some antibiotics are recommended to be taken with food, others at bedtime, and so on. It is better to check with your doctor or pharmacist if you do not fully understand the instructions for use.
5. 5 Take the full course of treatment prescribed by your doctor. If you do not drink the entire course of the drug, then your infection may progress. You may also develop antibiotic resistance, making it difficult to treat other conditions in the future.
   • Even if you feel better, you need to take all prescribed medications to kill the pathogenic bacteria that remain in the body. If you stop treatment too early, you may never completely clear the infection.

Method 2 of 5: How to clean a wound to prevent infection

1. 1 Prevent skin inflammation by treating the wound properly and applying a bandage. First aid is essential to protect yourself from the risk of infection, but do not self-medicate in case of serious damage to muscle tissue. If the wound is deep, extensive, or bleeds heavily, seek qualified help immediately.
2. 2 Wash your hands before handling the wound. Dirty hands increase the risk of infection. Wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for 20 seconds and dry them well. Wear clean vinyl or latex gloves, if you have one.
   • If you are allergic to latex, rule out this option.
3. 3 Pinch the wound to stop the bleeding. Seek medical attention immediately if bleeding is severe. Do not try to heal a serious wound yourself. Go to the emergency room or call an ambulance.
4. 4 Rinse the wound with warm running water. Keep the wound under a small stream of running water. Do not use soap unless the wound is heavily soiled. If it looks dirty, gently wash the area around the wound with a "mild" cleanser. Do not use hydrogen peroxide to cleanse the wound, as this substance interferes with healing.
   • If you notice any debris in the wound, try removing them with tweezers that have been sterilized with alcohol. See your doctor if you are unable to do this yourself.
5. 5 Apply the ointment. Bactericidal ointments, such as neosporin, promote early wound healing and prevent infections. Gently apply the ointment to the damaged area after pretreatment.
6. 6 Apply a bandage. If the wound is a small scratch, leave it open. Cover deeper cuts with sterile gauze. For large wounds, use a non-adhesive bandage secured with medical tape or large patches. When applying the patch, make sure that the adhesive part does not touch the damaged area, otherwise the wound may open when removed.
   • Change the gauze once a day if it gets dirty. The best time to do this is when you shower.
7. 7 Watch for signs of infection. If the wound is red, swollen, festering, or just looks worse, see your doctor.

Method 3 of 5: How to prevent foodborne infections

1. 1 Keep your hands clean. Always wash your hands with antibacterial soap for at least 20 seconds before handling food. Dry your hands well with a clean, dry towel. If you are handling raw meat, minimize contact with other foods and surfaces and wash your hands immediately after cooking.
2. 2 Rinse food well. Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating. Even organic greens need to be washed. Treat all surfaces that come into contact with raw food with an antibacterial agent to kill potentially harmful bacteria.
   • Use different cutting boards for different foods. To avoid food contamination, you should have at least two boards, one for fruits and vegetables, and one for raw meat.
3. 3 Always cook food until cooked through. Follow the directions carefully when preparing meals with raw ingredients to make sure everything is cooked correctly. Use a meat thermometer to make sure you're cooking it at the right temperature.

Method 4 of 5: How to prevent the spread of infection

1. 1 Wash your hands. Thorough and frequent hand washing (especially after touching your face, mouth, or nose during an illness, after touching a sick person, or after changing your baby's diaper) dramatically reduces the number of germs you come into contact with.
   • Wash your hands with warm (or hot) water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Remove dirt under your nails and between your fingers. Rinse your hands with clean water.
2. 2 Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Covering your mouth and nose when you are sick when you cough or sneeze will prevent transmission of the disease. This will prevent germs from spreading throughout the room.
   • Wash your hands if you covered your mouth when coughing or sneezing, before touching another person or common surfaces such as doorknobs or light switches.
   • You can also cover your mouth and nose with the fold of your elbow. It will also keep the virus from spreading without creating the need to wash your hands every 2 minutes while you are sick.
3. 3 Stay at home when you are sick. You can prevent the spread of the disease by staying at home. Take sick leave or work remotely; co-workers will surely appreciate your foresight.
4. 4 Leave children at home when they are sick. Kindergartens and schools are a real breeding ground for infectious microbes. The infection spreads from child to child, and as a result, unhappy children and irritated parents. To avoid such situations, it is better to leave the child at home during the illness. By your efforts, he will recover much faster and will not infect other children.
5. 5 Get your vaccinations on time. Make sure you and your children have all the recommended vaccinations for your age and area. Vaccines help prevent infections and diseases even before they occur, which is much easier than treating them later.

Method 5 of 5: Types of Bacterial Infections

1. 1 Staphylococcal infections. Staphylococci are gram-positive coccal colonies. The particle "gram" in the word "gram-positive" denotes a method of separating bacteria in relation to the structure of their cell wall. The word "coccus" refers to the spherical shape of the bacterium. This type of bacteria usually enters the body through cuts or wounds.
   • Staphylococcus aureus is the most common type of staphylococcal infection. It can cause pneumonia, food poisoning, skin infections, blood poisoning, and toxic shock.
   • Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus causes diseases that are particularly difficult to treat. This strain of staphylococci is resistant to many antibiotics. Therefore, most doctors do not prescribe antibiotic treatment unless absolutely necessary.
2. 2 Streptococcal infections. Streptococci are a very common type of gram-positive bacteria in the form of coccus rods. They cause pharyngitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, impetigo, scarlet fever, rheumatic attacks, acute glomerulonephritis, meningitis, otitis media, sinusitis and other infections.
3. 3 Escherichia coli. It is a type of gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria that can be found in the faeces of humans and animals. This group includes various types of bacteria. Some strains are harmful, others are not. These bacteria cause diarrhea, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system, respiratory diseases and other infections.
4. 4 Salmonella infections. This is a type of gram-negative bacteria that disrupts the digestive system. Salmonella causes serious illness that requires long-term antibiotic treatment. It is found in raw or undercooked meats, poultry, or eggs.
5. 5 Hemophilic infections. Haemophilus influenzae belongs to gram-negative bacteria. They are airborne and therefore highly contagious. Haemophilus influenzae is one of the causative agents of epiglottitis, meningitis, otitis media and pneumonia. This bacterium causes serious infections that can cause life-long disability or even death.
   • The influenza bacillus is not affected by the usual viral influenza vaccine, but most children are vaccinated at an early age to prevent haemophilus infections (called the Hib vaccination).

Tips

• If a certain type of antibiotic is causing you an allergic reaction, wear a bracelet or keep your allergy card with you in case you are unable to tell your healthcare provider.
• Use an antibacterial alcohol gel if you can't wash your hands right away, but don't substitute it for full hand washing.
• If you have frequent contact with someone who has a bacterial infection, remember to wash your hands and avoid physical contact as much as possible.
• Since there are many cases of hypersensitivity to antibiotics (amoxilicin, augmentin, clamox, etc.), you should discuss this with your doctor. Antibiotics are contraindicated in so-called hypersensitive patients as they can cause anaphylactic reactions.

Warnings

• Watch for any signs of allergies while taking antibiotic medications. An allergic reaction can occur at any age, regardless of past exposure to a particular antibiotic. A rash on the skin (especially hives or scarring), itching, and shortness of breath may indicate this reaction. Get immediate medical attention or call an ambulance if you experience difficulty breathing, dizziness or fainting, or swelling of your lips, tongue, or airways. If your symptoms only raise suspicion of an allergy, contact your doctor and stop taking antibiotics.
• Some studies show that children under one year of age who take broad-spectrum antibiotics have a much higher risk of developing asthma. Remember that if a doctor prescribes broad-spectrum antibiotics for your child, it is only because the benefits of such treatment far outweigh the potential risks. This group of drugs may be the only way to deal with the infection.
• Adults taking broad-spectrum antibiotics may subsequently develop resistance to some narrow-spectrum antibiotics.
• Tetracycline is contraindicated in pregnant women and children.
• Do not take tetracycline with milk.