Germs in the intestine
The intestine contains by far the most germs of the human body. Almost all species are represented, Staphylococci, Enterococci, Klostridia or rod bacteria and Enterobactericae. The various microorganisms of the intestine play an important role in the digestion of food, the associated absorption of vitamins and nutrients, but also the formation of intestinal gases, which can become symptomatic as flatulence.
Despite their usefulness for a functioning digestion, many of the bacteria make people ill when their numbers increase too much. The best example is the bacterium Escherichia Coli, a rod-shaped intestinal bacterium. If the number of bacteria present rises above normal levels, diarrhoea (diarrhoea) and gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines) with nausea and vomiting will occur.
Such symptoms can also be caused by the ingestion of spoiled food (e.g. meat, especially poultry or raw eggs). The causative pathogen in the case of food poisoning is usually Staphylococcus aureus. The bacterium produces toxins that act in the gastrointestinal tract (enterotoxins).
Salmonella have a similar effect. They are also found in spoiled food, for example raw eggs. Food poisoning is characterized by a short but violent course.
Other pathogens, however, are responsible for the development of entire epidemics.A prime example of such an epidemic is cholera, caused by Vibrio cholerae, a bacterium that still costs the lives of many people, especially children, in developing countries. Not only bacteria cause diarrhoea and vomiting, many viruses are also capable of this. Adeno-, Rota- and Noroviruses are to be mentioned here.
The best known virus is the norovirus. Again and again, public institutions such as schools, kindergartens or care facilities have to close because children have become infected with the Norovirus. Diarrhoea and vomiting are the main symptoms of the infectious diseases.
Germs in blood
Sepsis (blood poisoning) can occur as a result of an infectious disease. This occurs when germs from a local focus (e.g. clostridia in the intestine) enter the bloodstream and the inflammatory reaction triggered by the pathogens spreads to the entire body. Possibly (depending on the type of pathogen), toxins are also involved in the damage to the body in the course of sepsis.
Cell damage and the death of cells lead to inflammatory reactions and the release of inflammation-dependent messenger substances in the body. Besides the detection of the causative germ, the further symptoms of sepsis are quite clearly defined. Fever above 38 degrees, rapid breathing (tachypnea), high heart rate (tachycardia) and elevated inflammation values in the blood play the main role here.
If sepsis remains untreated, the infection spreads to the organs, and many patients subsequently die from multiple organ failure. In order to be able to effectively treat sepsis, the triggering pathogen must be known exactly. Blood cultures in the laboratory are essential for this purpose, and treatment is then carried out depending on the pathogen. However, since sepsis is often caused by bacteria (rarely by fungi), the administration of an appropriate antibiotic is the first step.
