The difference between bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites are: • Viruses are not living, whereas bacteria, fungi and parasites are all living organisms. • Viruses need a host cell to be able to replicate, bacteria can multiply themselves by cell division and fungi produce asexually.
• Bacteria are single celled as they do not have a nucleus whereas fungi and parasites are multicellular which have a nucleus, (although yeast is a single celled fungus). • Fungi have cell walls which are made of chitin and they are not animals, parasites and bacteria are both animals. • Fungi get their food from an outside source whereas bacteria make their own food source. • Parasites are more easily cleared up with medication (as long as they know it is a parasite and what type) while there are very few medications against viruses.Common illnesses and infections caused by bacteria are: Pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, salmonella, strep throat, whooping cough and skin disorders. More serious illnesses are: Tuberculosis, Bubonic Plague Pertussis, Cholera, Tetanus, STD’s and bacterial meningitis.
Common illnesses and infections caused by viruses are: the common cold, influenza, chickenpox and cold sores.More serious illnesses are: Ebola, AIDS, HIV, avian influenza and SARS. Common illnesses and infections caused by fungi are: Yeast vaginitis, oral thrush, ringworm, skin ulcers, kidney stones and athlete’s foot. More serious illnesses are: Fungal meningitis, Diabetes and cancer. Common illnesses and infections caused by parasites are: intestinal roundworm, hookworm, malaria, lyme disease, scabies and schistosomiasis,Infection is the growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment from that organism).
A person with an infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within them, drawing its nourishment from the person. Colonisation is when microorganisms live on or in a host organism but do not invade tissues or cause damage. If the organisms begin to invade tissues and cause damage or make the person sick, the colonisation then becomes an infection.Systemic infection is an infection that affects the whole body, probably travelling in lymph or blood. Localised infection is an infection that is restricted or limited to a specific body part or region.
Poor practices that may result in the spread of infections are: • shortage of staff leading to inadequate standards and practices, • poor knowledge and understanding when coming into contact with any types of infections and how to deal with the situation, • staff having poor or no understanding/training with regards to infection control, food hygiene and cross contamination, • poor or no hand hygiene or over use of hand gels in place of hand washing, • lack of appropriate protective clothing such as; gloves and aprons, • overuse or incorrect use of antibiotics which may result in the infection not ever being truly treated, • poor personal hygiene, unclean uniforms, wearing of jewelry/watches and bad personal habits such as; not covering when coughing and sneezing, picking your nose or teeth. • Appropriate training, policies and procedures being out of date, knowing the news and what is possibly about at the time.
