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Reviewed
by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
What Are Germs?
The term "germs" refers to the microscopic bacteria,
viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause disease.
Washing hands well and often is
the best way to prevent germs from leading to
infections and sickness.
What Are the Types of Germs?
Bacteria
Bacteria (bak-TEER-ee-uh) are tiny, single-celled organisms that
get nutrients from their environments.
Some bacteria are good for our bodies — they help keep the digestive system in working order
and keep harmful bacteria from moving in.
Some bacteria are used to make medicines and vaccines.
But bacteria can cause trouble too, as with cavities, urinary tract infections, ear infections, or strep throat.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.
Viruses
Viruses are even smaller than bacteria. They aren't even a full
cell.
They are simply genetic material (DNA or RNA) packaged inside of a
protein coating. They need to use another cell's structures to reproduce.
This means they can't survive unless they're living inside
something else (such as a person, animal, or plant).
Viruses can only live for a very short time outside other living
cells.
For example, viruses in infected body fluids left on surfaces like
a doorknob or toilet seat can live there for a short time. They'll die quickly
unless a live host comes along.
When they've moved into someone's body, though, viruses spread
easily and can make a person sick.
Viruses cause minor sicknesses like colds, common illnesses like the flu, and very serious diseases like smallpox
or HIV/AIDS.
Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Antiviral medicines
have been developed against a small, select group of viruses.
Fungi
Fungi (FUN-guy) are multicelled, plant-like organisms. A fungus
gets nutrition from plants, food, and animals in damp, warm environments.
Many fungal infections, such as athlete's foot and yeast infections, are not dangerous in
a healthy person.
People with weak immune systems (from diseases like HIV or
cancer), though, may get more serious fungal infections.
Protozoa
Protozoa (pro-toe-ZO-uh) are one-celled organisms, like bacteria.
But they are bigger than bacteria and contain a nucleus and other
cell structures, making them more like plant and animal cells.
Protozoa love moisture. So intestinal infections and other
diseases they cause, like amebiasis and giardiasis, often spread through
contaminated water.
Some protozoa are parasites. This means they need to live on or in
another organism (like an animal or plant) to survive.
For example, the protozoa that causes malaria grows inside red blood cells,
eventually destroying them.
Some protozoa are encapsulated in cysts, which help them live
outside the human body and in harsh environments for long periods of time.
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl
Ben-Joseph, MD
Nemours
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