The impact of bacterial infections varies from mild to severe, can even be life-threatening. This infection can attack the patient's skin, blood, organs, or intestinal tract. The number of patients requiring antibiotics that kill bacteria continues to grow every year, and the death rate from this infection is increasing as well. Therefore, everyone needs to know how to prevent bacterial infections. If you think you have contracted the bacteria, seek immediate medical attention for treatment. You can reduce your risk of developing a bacterial infection by using a few simple strategies and changing some of your habits.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Use Basic Infection Prevention Strategies
Step 1. Wash your hands frequently
Hand washing is an important step to prevent the spread of bacterial infections. Make sure you wash your hands after sneezing or coughing and several times throughout the day. You should also wash your hands when:
- Before and after preparing food
- Before and after caring for the sick
- Before and after treating wounds on the skin
- After using the toilet or changing diapers
- After touching trash
- After touching, feeding, or picking up animal waste.
Step 2. Use proper hand washing technique
Proper hand washing technique will ensure that your hands are washed as thoroughly as possible. Use antibacterial soap and warm water to wash your hands.
- Wet your hands then soap your hands until they are foamy. Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds. The friction when washing your hands will kill the bacteria on your hands.
- Make sure you clean the dirt under your nails and between your fingers.
- Rinse off the soap with warm water and dry your hands with a clean towel.
- If you need a timeline, sing "Happy Birthday" from the beginning twice. Usually the song will last for 20 seconds.
Step 3. Clean things in your home or office
You can reduce the amount of bacteria in the environment by keeping some essentials clean. Clean frequently-handled items in your home or office such as telephones, doorknobs, sinks, and toilet handles. Use a disinfectant to clean these items at least once a week.
Step 4. Stay away from people who appear to be sick
You never know for sure if someone just has a common cold or a more serious illness. Therefore, avoid people who seem to be sick. Do not touch people who are infected, have a cold or flu, or any other infectious disease.
Method 2 of 4: Protecting Yourself from Bacteria in Food
Step 1. Learn about harmful gut bacteria
There are several bacteria that can grow in the intestinal tract and cause mild to life-threatening illness. These bacteria include campylobacter, salmonella, shigella, e. Coli, listeria, and botulism. Each bacterium causes a set of symptoms that a doctor can diagnose and treat. However, prevention is always better than cure.
Step 2. Get lots of information about food and drink
Sometimes food and drink can become contaminated so you need to keep an eye on the news regarding contaminated water or food.
- Listen to local news for contamination news in your city's water supply. If you know the water is being contaminated, buy bottled water for drinking/cooking purposes and limit bathing until the water supply is back to normal.
- Listen to news regarding food recalls. Contamination is a common problem, so make sure you stay informed. If certain types of food are known to have been recalled, throw them away at home and see a doctor if you have eaten them before hearing the news.
Step 3. Keep both hands clean when preparing food
Hand washing is very important in preventing bacterial infections. You should always wash your hands before and after handling food. You should also wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing diapers, before working in the kitchen.
Step 4. Wash and cook your food well
Washing and cooking food thoroughly can prevent bacteria from entering your body. Wash all fruits and vegetables well before eating and cook animal products to kill bacteria in food.
- Avoid eating raw or undercooked food, processed poultry and eggs.
- Do not contaminate your food by using the same cooking utensils for raw meat or eggs with vegetables and fruits until the utensils are thoroughly washed. Be sure to wash sinks, cutting boards, and cooktops thoroughly after using them to cook meat or eggs as they can contaminate other foods.
Step 5. Beware of botulism
Do not eat food that has a bad smell or its packaging is damaged. Both are symptoms of botulism, which is a very dangerous bacteria. If eaten, botulism can be life-threatening. Food botulism is often associated with canned, low-acid foods, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, and corn. Follow canning procedures perfectly if you are canning your own food at home.
Do not give honey to children under 12 months of age. Honey can contain botulism that affects babies
Method 3 of 4: Physically Preventing Bacterial Infections
Step 1. Reduce the risk of contracting vaginitis
Vaginitis or vulvovaginitis is the medical term for inflammation of the vagina and/or vulva from bacteria, viruses, or chemical irritants found in creams, soaps and lotions. Bacterial vaginosis is often the result of abnormal growth of bacteria in the vagina. There are several steps to reduce the risk of developing vaginitis.
- Don't douche. Douches change the pH in the vagina and increase the risk of contracting bacteria.
- Limit your sexual partner to only one person. Bacterial vaginosis tends to affect people with multiple sexual partners more easily.
- Do not smoke. Smoking is associated with an increased risk of bacterial infection in the vagina.
Step 2. Protect yourself from pharyngitis (sore throat)
Bacterial infection in the throat is called pharyngitis. This disease refers to inflammation and infection of the pharynx (gullet), or the back of the throat. There are several strategies that can be used to reduce the potential for throat infections.
- Wash your hands after being in public or around people who have breathing problems.
- Wash your hands after blowing your own nose or a small child who has a runny nose or sore throat.
- Do not share cutlery with children or adults who appear to have an infection or sore throat. Separate sick people's eating utensils from others and wash them thoroughly with hot soapy water.
- Wash all toys that babies with pharyngitis play with. Use hot soapy water, rinse thoroughly, and dry thoroughly.
- Throw away all used tissue immediately.
- Avoid kissing or sharing eating utensils with people with the flu, cold, mononucleosis, or other bacterial infections.
- Do not smoke and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Use a humidifier if the air in your home is too dry.
- Keep your neck warm by wearing a scarf during cold weather. Thus, your body temperature is not suitable for the growth of viruses and bacteria.
Step 3. Reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs that can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. This infection is very serious and can cause death. Some groups of people have a high risk of contracting pneumonia and should take precautions with caution. Take immediate precautions if you:
- Smoking or using other tobacco products.
- Have a respiratory infection such as the flu, cold, or laryngitis
- Have a medical condition that interferes with your ability to swallow, such as stroke, dementia, or Parkinson's.
- Have a chronic lung condition such as cystic fibrosis, COPD, or bronchiectasis
- Have a serious medical condition such as heart disease, liver cirrhosis, or diabetes
- Recently had surgery or experienced physical trauma
- Have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or medications.
Step 4. Reduce the risk of contracting pneumonia as much as possible
If you are prone to pneumonia, protect yourself as much as possible. Measures to prevent pneumonia include:
- Get the flu vaccine every year
- Inject the pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine if you are an adult.
- Stop using tobacco, especially cigarettes.
- Wash your hands after blowing your nose, going to the bathroom, caring for the sick, or before eating or preparing food.
- Keep your hands away from your face and nose.
- Aspiration pneumonia can occur when food or liquid is swallowed by the throat. Avoid eating in a prone position, or feeding people who are sitting incorrectly.
- Take care of yourself in general, because pneumonia can come from other respiratory infections.
Step 5. Reduce your child's risk of developing ear infections
Children are more prone to developing internal ear infections. These infections are very painful and can trigger other health problems. You can reduce this risk with the following steps:
- Do not smoke in the house or near children. Ear infections are more common in children who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
- Breastfeed your child if possible. Breast milk helps children develop their immune systems, and reduces the risk of ear infections.
- Never let your baby drink from a bottle while lying down. The structure of the ear and the canal that drains the middle ear increases the risk of ear infections if you drink while lying down.
- Take care of the child so as not to be exposed to other children who are sick. Keep children's hands clean, because they often put foreign objects in their mouths.
Step 6. Keep your ears clean to prevent swimmer's ear
Swimmer's ear is an infection in the outer ear canal triggered by residual water in the outer ear which creates a warm and moist environment for bacterial growth. This disease is also known as acute external otitis or otitis externa. To prevent swimmer's ear, do:
- Dry your ears after swimming and bathing.
- Dry the outer ear with a soft towel or cloth. Tilt your head to one side and then the other to drain the water from the ear.
- Dry the ear canal with a hairdryer on the lowest setting and hold it at least 30.5 cm from the ear.
- Do not insert foreign objects into the ear such as cotton swabs, paper clips, or hair clips.
- Plug ears with cotton when using irritating products such as hairspray and hair dye.
Step 7. Protect yourself from bacterial meningitis
Bacterial infections can also attack the brain. During 2003-2007, there were 4,100 cases of bacterial meningitis recorded annually, including 500 cases that resulted in death. Treatment with antibiotics reduces the risk of death from meningitis to below 15%, but vaccine prevention is always preferable. Do the following to reduce your risk of contracting bacterial meningitis:
- Wash your hands often.
- Do not share drinks, eating utensils, lip balm, or toothbrushes with others.
- Keep your immune system healthy by sleeping at least 7-8 hours every night, drinking 8 glasses of water every day, exercising 30 minutes a day, and eating a balanced diet and multivitamins.
- Consider getting a bacterial meningitis vaccine. Some forms of bacterial meningitis can be prevented with a vaccine. Ask your doctor about vaccines to help you protect yourself from this disease.
- Bacterial meningitis can be transmitted through the air so if you know someone has the disease, avoid the patient and wear a face mask.
Step 8. Learn how to reduce your risk of developing sepsis
Septicemia or sepsis is an uncontrolled bacterial infection of the blood. If these bacteria grow in the blood, they will infect organs in the body such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver, and spleen.
- Various types of infections can cause species, for example in the skin, lungs, urinary tract, and stomach, or infections that mainly affect the blood.
- Some people have a high risk of developing sepsis, including people with weakened immune systems, infants and children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, liver disease, or HIV/AIDS, and people with physical trauma or severe burns. Take precautions just in case.
- You can prevent sepsis infection while preventing other bacterial infections, increase the strength of the immune system, and treat chronic health conditions that you have.
Method 4 of 4: Understanding Bacterial Infections
Step 1. Understand that bacteria are very strong
Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that are capable of living in extreme conditions. Some of the bacteria were found in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park where the water was almost boiling and some were in the ice in Antarctica.
Step 2. Learn how bacteria are transmitted
Bacteria need certain nutrients to survive and reproduce or hibernate until conditions are right. Many bacteria are attached to sugar or starch which is abundant in organic matter. This is why bacteria are commonly found in food. Bacteria will multiply and duplicate themselves under suitable conditions so to prevent the development of bacteria, these conditions must be prevented.
- Biofilm surfaces on toilets or sinks can also support bacterial growth
- Keep in mind that not all bacteria are harmful to the body. Many types of bacteria live on your skin and intestinal tract. These bacteria help your body function.
Step 3. Know when to call your doctor
Bacterial infections can be dangerous and cause death. If you do not succeed in preventing infection, you should immediately contact a doctor for medical attention. Call your doctor immediately if you suffer from:
- Fever up to 38 degrees Celsius for more than three days
- Symptoms that do not resolve on their own after two days.
- Pain and discomfort requiring pain medication.
- Cough, either with sputum (mucus coughed up from the lungs) or not that continues for more than one week.
- Damage to the eardrum with discharge of pus.
- Headache and fever and inability to lift the head.
- Vomiting a lot and not being able to hold fluids.
Step 4. Seek medical help in more severe situations
Some situations require emergency medical attention and need to be taken to the ER as soon as possible. Seek immediate medical attention if you:
- Experiencing swelling, redness, fever and pain.
- weakness, sensory disturbances, stiff neck, fever, nausea or vomiting, fatigue, and disorientation.
- convulsions
- Difficulty breathing or not having the energy to breathe.
Tips
- Bacterial infections are very dangerous. This disease can occur in any part of your body from your brain to your fingertips.
- Pay close attention to infection prevention measures during the dry and rainy seasons and also whether you are susceptible to bacterial infections.
Warning
- If you have a bacterial infection, see your doctor for an antibiotic that will kill the bacteria causing the infection.
- Have an STD test with your partner before having sex. Use condoms even after an STD test for added protection against illness and pregnancy.
- Leftover food from last night may have been contaminated the next day. Do not eat foods that go stale quickly and are kept at room temperature overnight.
- If you are prescribed antibiotics, take all your medication even after you feel well. Unfinished medication will make the bacteria resistant to the drug and if your infection recurs, treating it will be more difficult.
