Types of Germs: Fungi

Fungi

A previous article entitled, “Types of Germs” mentioned bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa as the basic microorganisms that cause disease. Today we will be looking a little more closely at fungi.

There are five basic types of fungi that can cause disease in humans and other organisms. These harmful types of fungi are known as Pathogenic Fungi.

• Candida: This type of fungi is known to cause infection in patients whose immune systems are already being compromised by a previous illness such as AIDS or cancer. Systemic infections are difficult to treat and can be very serious, with 30-40% of cases leading to death.
• Aspergillus: Spores of this fungus are found nearly everywhere so humans are constantly exposed to them without any negative health effects. However, if the fungus produces a poison known as mycotoxins, causes an allergic response, or creates an infection, it can cause illness. Usually only patients with compromised immune systems experience typical symptoms, which include fever, cough, chest pain or breathlessness.
• Cryptococcus: This type of fungus can cause a severe form of meningitis in humans. Some strains of the fungus are more harmful than others, and most of them only effect immunocompromised people. However, Cryptococcus gattii is endemic to tropical parts of the continent of Africa and Australia and can cause disease in non-immunocompromised people.
• Histoplasma: This type of fungus usually grows in caves where bat or bird droppings are present. The spores of the fungus can cause a disease known as Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is usually a disease affecting the lungs, creating a cough and flu-like symptoms. Ocular Histoplasmosis infects the eyes, causing leakage and a loss of vision.
• Pneumocystis: Pneumocystis jirovecii (or Pneumocystis carinii) can cause a form of pneumonia in people with weakened immune systems, such as premature children, the elderly, and AIDS patients.
• Stachybotrys: StachybotrysCchartarum or “black mold” can cause respiratory damage and severe headaches. It frequently occurs in houses in regions that are chronically damp.

The best ways to avoid fungal infections and illnesses are to keep your home as clean as possible, avoid letting any surfaces in your house remain moist for long periods of time, and practice good personal hygiene such as daily showers, clean undergarments, and wearing shoes in public showers.

Types of Germs: Viruses

A previous article entitled, “Types of Germs” briefly discussed the properties bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Below is an overview of human viral infections, many of which have no known cure.

Vaccines have nearly eliminated many of the infections above including measles, mumps, meningitis, and rubella. Many viral infections do not have a vaccine or a known cure, so measures must be taken to avoid contracting the disease.

• The common cold and pharyngitis (sore throat) can be prevented with good hand hygiene, avoiding the spread of germs, and taking steps to strengthen the immune system.
• Eye infections can be avoided by washing hands before removing or inserting contacts; not sharing eye make up, eye drops, towels, or tissues with others; protecting the eyes from wind, heat, or cold; and avoiding exposing the eyes with contaminated water.
• Gingivostomatitis is the development of painful sores in the mouth and can be prevented with good oral hygiene including brushing the gums, using medicated mouthwash or salt water, and flossing daily. Avoiding foods that are too salty or spicy can also help reduce your chances of infection.
• Pneumonia is an infection in the lungs and is best prevented by not smoking.
• Gastroenteritis is an infection of the digestive system and can be avoided by checking expiration dates on food and not leaving perishables out. Reducing stress, washing hands often, keeping toilets clean, and only drinking bottled water in foreign countries are also ways to avoid infection.
• Sexually transmitted diseases can be avoided with abstinence before marriage, the use of protection, and proper personal hygiene.
• Pancreatitis is best avoided by simply having a a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

General healthy living and personal hygiene will strengthen your immune system and help your body defend itself against most of these viral infections. However, it is important to be aware of symptoms that could point to an infection and contact a doctor if you seem to be experiencing them.

Types of Germs: Bacteria

A previous article entitled “Types of Germs” briefly discussed the difference between bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. This article will delve a little more deeply into the two basic types of bacteria: helpful and harmful.

Helpful

It seems that whenever we hear about bacteria it has the word “anti” in front of it: antibacterial, antibiotics, etc. Because of this, we tend to assume that all bacteria are harmful and should be avoided. This is not necessarily true. Inside our bodies we have many types of bacteria that help us to perform the functions we need to survive.

One type of bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. Coli) occurs throughout our entire digestive system. Without these microorganisms, our bodies would be unable to break down many of the foods that we ingest daily.  E. Coli found in the gut helps our bodies produce vitamin K, which is vital for coagulation, bone health, and reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Decomposing bacteria aid in the breaking down of dead plants and animals. Once the bacteria have done their job, plants can use the nutrients as fertilizer to grow.

Lactobacillus is a type of bacteria used industrially for the production of yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, beer, wine, cider, kimchi, chocolate, and other fermented foods, as well as animal feeds, such as silage. Sourdough bread is made using a “starter culture,” which is a symbiotic culture of yeast and lactic acid bacteria growing in a water and flour medium.

Harmful

Some types of bacteria are harmful because they directly attack the tissues of a plant or animal. These harmful bacteria produce poisonous chemicals known as toxins.

Clostridium Tetani is a toxin-releasing bacterium that causes a disease known as tetanus or lockjaw. This disease causes an infected person’s muscles to become paralyzed. Clostridium Botulinum is a type of bacterium that causes the most severe form of food poisoning: botulism. One type of bacterium known as Staphylococcus lives on human skin harmlessly but if it enters the blood stream, it can cause fatal toxic shock syndrome.

E. Coli is similar to Staphylococcus because it lives in our digestive system as helpful bacteria, but if it enters the blood stream it can be fatal.

How to Kill Germs in the Home

Germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that typically are parasitic in nature. Germs feed or reproduce using a host’s resources, whether that host is living or dead, plant or animal. Although some germs are helpful, specifically some that inhabit the human body and aid in digestion, many germs are just waiting for a chance to infect. However, since most of us can’t see microscopic organisms, it can be difficult to kill germs unless you know where to look.

Household bacteria come from many different sources, so you have to consider where each kind may show up. A common source is animal contact in the house, whether from a pet or from meat being prepared. Meat cutting boards need to be washed immediately after cutting is complete to avoid spreading salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter (causes food poisoning) and many other bacteria. It’s best to keep a separate cutting board for other foods. It is important to keep pet areas and food dishes clean to avoid the spread of bacteria that are brought in by them. Bacteria can also come from plants or dirt from unwashed vegetables. Though the germs found in most vegetables and fruits don’t afflict humans, it is still possible to become sick from them if they are either blighted or dirty.

Many people worry about the bacteria and other germs found in their tap water, but in most developed countries the water is treated to kill germs that are potentially hazardous to humans. Still, even relatively harmless bacteria can be worrisome if they’re allowed to build up. Of course, another source of household bacteria is humans. Most of the bacteria we create are either not harmful or are in numbers too small to seriously affect us. Problems arise when the harmful bacteria in small numbers are allowed to sit around and multiply.

There are several key locations in the house that should be paid close attention when intending to kill germs by cleaning. First, the most germ-filled place in the house is the kitchen. Germs love to grow on sponges, rags, fridge handles, phones, utensils, and countertops. The secret to cleaning is to start with the cleaning tool. If it’s a sponge, try microwaving it for a couple minutes to eliminate harmful bacteria from spreading as you clean. If it’s a rag, make sure it has completely dried out and hasn’t been in use for more than a week. A kitchen sponge or rag are the number 1 source of germs in the entire house, due to the moist crevices that they provide, not to mention plentiful food sources. Another area that will be rife with household bacteria will be, of course, the bathroom. Concentrate on areas in and around the toilet, but also clean door handles and faucet handles. In the rest of the house, clean places where hands get placed often, namely doorknobs, video game controllers, computer keyboards, and anywhere else that will attract unwashed hands.

Fortunately, even though we can’t see them, we can still kill germs by knowing where to look. Household bacteria will always be a problem, but keeping your household clean in the right places can greatly reduce your chances of inviting germs to make themselves at home.

Types of Germs

Everyone has heard about germs. But when someone says germs, what do they mean? Germs are everywhere. On your phone, your counter, your doorknob, your steering wheel, and even inside your body. While there is no bacteria list naming all the kinds of germs in existence, there are still some basic sub-categories of germs. So what are germs?

Germ is the word given to the tiny organisms that tend to cause disease in humans. Germs come in four main varieties: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. These four can all make people sick, although bacteria and viruses are mostly responsible for the illnesses that humans experience.

Bacteria are one of the oldest living life forms on earth. There are literally trillions of bacteria in existence. Bacteria are fairly simple little organisms. They thrive by consuming the resources around them, whether they are on a plant, in water, on the ground, or in your body. Bacteria are found in the human mouth, intestine, skin, eyes, nose, and many other places. In fact, there are ten times as many bacteria cells as human cells in the human body. This might worry you, but most of the bacteria in the body don’t cause disease. However, lots of bacteria out of the body DO cause disease. Some bacteria names you might recognize are tetanus, pneumonia, cholera, typhoid, and streptococcus.

Viruses are the other main disease-producer, being responsible for such varied ailments as HIV, smallpox, multiple sclerosis, and countless others. A virus is a parasite that is made up of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell. Most viruses don’t survive long outside of a host, usually not more than 6 hours. They can survive in plants, animals, humans, or even bacteria. Viruses are usually transmitted via bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus. For example, if a sick person sneezes or even breathes, tiny moisture droplets are expelled into the air, where they can float suspended, viruses intact, until another person breathes them in. Viruses can remain dormant for long periods of time within a host, waiting for the right conditions for them to replicate.

Fungi are also parasitic life forms that don’t provide for their own needs, instead feeding on plants, animals, and humans. They tend to grow in warm, damp places, and can often be found where something is rotting. Many fungi feed on decaying plants or animals and are relatively harmless. Some fungi infect living creatures and can cause diseases, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, some types of pneumonia, and many other infections of the skin and tissues.

The final addition to the term “germ” are the protozoa. Protozoa are unicellular microorganisms that exist in soil and liquids. Protozoa or protozoans feed on algae, bacteria, and microfungi. Although protozoa are not usually harmful to humans, they do cause a few diseases. The most famous protozoa disease is malaria, which is caused by a particular protozoa that multiply in the red blood cells, inhibiting their performance.

Germs exist in staggering numbers and are found almost everywhere, whether it be high up in the atmosphere, under the ground, at the bottom of the ocean, or in the bottom of your stomach. Germs come in malicious and helpful forms, and it’s important to know the differences between types of germs.