How can bacteria be destroyed

Bacteria are also used in making healthy foods like yogurt and cheese. But infectious bacteria can make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus , Staphylococcus , and E. Antibiotics are the usual treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully.

Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them causing antibiotic resistance. Later, you could get or spread an infection that those antibiotics cannot cure.

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health. Pathogenic bacteria are commonly classified as intracellular or extracellular pathogens.

Intracellular bacterial pathogens can replicate within host cells, including macrophages, which ingest and kill microorganisms in a process called phagocytosis. By contrast, extracellular pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa multiply outside of cells. However, recent data have shown that several extracellular pathogens can enter host cells.

Some examples include:. The CDC lists the following temperature guidelines for several common types of food:. In addition to making sure that food is cooked to the proper temperature, the following strategies can also help reduce your risk of food poisoning:. In addition to using heat, there are a variety of other steps you can take to get rid of harmful bacteria in your home. Many surfaces in your home can also harbor pathogenic bacteria.

This is particularly true of surfaces that you touch often. Although using normal cleaning products can help reduce bacteria on household surfaces, disinfectants can kill them. Some examples of disinfectants that can kill bacteria on surfaces include:. In addition to using disinfectants, opening your blinds may also reduce bacteria on household surfaces.

A study found that sunlight exposure can reduce some types of bacteria found in household dust. Generally speaking, washing and drying these fabrics as you normally would can help reduce or eliminate bacteria on these items. Viruses are tiny microbes that are even smaller than bacteria.

Some viruses may also be surrounded by a membrane called an envelope. Viruses are parasites. They need to invade a host cell in order to replicate. Like bacteria, they can cause disease in humans. Some examples of viral illnesses that you may be familiar with include:. Generally speaking, many viruses are sensitive to environmental factors like temperature and humidity. Some only survive outside of the human body for a matter of hours or days, although others can remain viable for weeks.

You can eliminate viruses from your home in much the same way as bacteria or other germs. This includes:. While most bacteria are harmless, some can cause disease in humans. These bacteria are referred to as pathogenic. Temperature is one of the ways you can kill pathogenic bacteria in your home.

You can do this by:. Disinfectants are another way to kill bacteria in your home. For example, you can use disinfectant products or bleach on common household surfaces. When using disinfectants, always carefully follow the product instructions.