Is a Bacterial Infection Contagious

Bacteria are basically found all over the places, surviving in the most habitable and hostile environments in the world. They are made up of just a single cell and are able to pro-generate through division of cell. They have a nucleus, that contains genes, genes which are made up of DNA, and DNA replication helps in production of new bacterial cells. Bacteria are found in and on the human body. There are many beneficial bacterias to humans that help us in many ways. But, there are certain harmful bacteria called pathogens, that cause bacterial infections or diseases.

Bacteria who are otherwise beneficial bacteria and peaceful inhabitants of the human body, tend to grow and develop bacterial infections, contagious and non-contagious ones, simply because they may be present at the wrong place in the body or their genetic make up is designed to invade the host, resulting in a bacterial infection. There are thousands of bacteria, but only a few cause bacterial infections in humans. The most common bacterial infections are caused by:

Staphylococci: Staph is a harmless bacteria and is the most common bacteria found in the human body. There are some species of staphylococci that cause bacterial infections like methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus. This is the most common bacteria that causes serious skin diseases.

Streptococci: Another common bacteria found in and on the human body. It causes many bacterial infections of the respiratory tract like pneumonia and strep throat.

Haemophilus influenzae: This bacteria causes respiratory infections, ear infections or a type of meningitis. Know more on is meningitis contagious.

Escherichia coli: The most common inhabitant of the digestive system can cause severe diarrhea. E.coli can also cause food poisoning.

Helicobacter pyroli: This is the most common bacteria that causes stomach ulcers.

Salmonella: This a food borne pathogenic bacteria that causes diarrhea and food poisoning. Know more on salmonella poisoning symptoms.

Is a Bacterial Infection Contagious?
The most common question asked about bacteria is are bacterial infections contagious? Bacteria affect people who have low immunity like the elderly or infants. Malnutrition or deficiency of vitamins and nutrients may also lead to bacterial infections. Bacteria can easily spread due to unhygienic practices and touching unclean objects and surfaces. Sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia, gonorrhea are bacterial infections transmitted by contact with body fluids during sexual activities. Bacterial vaginosis is another infection that causes discharge with embarrassing fishy odor in women. Food borne diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, food poisoning are diseases caused by bacteria like Clostridium botulinum, Brucella melitensis, Salmonella typhi, etc. These bacterial infections are contagious enough to affect many people who eat the same food. One can not forget the story of a 'Typhoid Mary', who was thought to be a carrier of Salmonella typhii. She has been known to infect many people and even caused death of many by spreading bacterial infections.

Many people often wonder, are bacterial throat infections contagious? A streptococcal throat infection is very contagious and can spread very quickly. A bacterial throat infection is known to be very contagious during the first 24 hours of infection. Bacterial pink eye infection is also very contagious. It can spread by just merely touching or using an object that has been used by an infected person with pink eye. Thus, children suffering from pink eye are asked to remain at home and resume school later, to reduce the spread of infection.

Other modes of a bacterial infection contagious enough to spread, is through a biological vector. These biological vectors are nothing but bites of insects like fleas, ticks, or contact with bird droppings, infected birds, infected cattle, horses, rodents and even humans. Bacterial infections like anthrax caused by Bacillus anthracis, Lyme disease by Borrelia burgdorferi, Meniningicoccal meningitis due to Neisseria meningitis, syphilis due to Treponema pallidium are highly contagious and known to cause epidemics around the world. Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is still a major bacterial infection, contagious enough to invade many people who are at risk.

Food and water contaminated by fecal matter of humans and animals can be another mode of spreading bacterial infections. Legionnaire's disease caused by Legionella pneumophila, Parathyphoid by Salmonella paratyphi, etc. are also known to be very infectious diseases.

Thus, one can safely answer the question 'is a bacterial infection contagious' positively as yes. Bacterial infections are contagious and spread like wild-fire. You can yourself determine if your infection seems infectious or not. Stay at home and take plenty of rest to come out of the bacterial infection, hale and hearty. Eat a healthy diet and maintain a strong immune system. Most bacterias are opportunistic pathogens, thus, do not give them an opportunity to invade your body and cause contagious bacterial infections.