Difference between Yeast Infection and Bacterial Infection
An infection is the result of invasive damaging behavior of parasites on a host organism. They multiply and produce diseases leading to moderate to severe pain, and in some cases they can be deadly. The infecting agent might be a bacterium, a fungus, a virus, a prion or a viroid. A reaction is easily triggered by the immune system through an exterior sign such as inflammation or skin color change.
In order to fight against an infection it is important to discover it in due time before the parasites begin to multiply. This can prevent further complications in the treatment process and ensure a greater chance of recovery.
Definition
Yeasts are eukaryotic microorganisms, members of the fungi class containing 1500 identified species. The pathogen agents found within the class which can attack the human immune system and cause yeast infection are cryptococcus neoformans, candida albicans and other yeasts from the candida subfamily. Most common yeast infections affect oral and genital organs.
Bacteria are a group of prokaryote microorganisms found in all places on the Earth. Some already live in the human body, but their effects are nullified by the immune systems. The pathogenic agents which cause bacterial infection are; vibrio cholerae causing cholera, bacillus anthracis causing anthrax, yersinia pestis causing bubonic plague and many others.
Bacterial infections affect the skin, the lungs, the eyes, the sinuses, the genital organs and the urinary tract.
Symptoms
Yeast infection can be detected if the patient has the following symptoms: itching, irritation, burning sensations and a whitish discharge.
Bacterial infection is identifiable through symptoms like fever, general sensation of fatigue for more than three months and chills. A distinctive symptom is local pain. The bacteria can be localized within the radius where the patient feels intense pain.
Treatment
Yeast infections can be treated with antifungal drugs such as clotrimazole, topical nystatin, fluconazole or topical ketoconazole. For treatment of candida albicans vaginal infections fluconazole is used in most cases. In severe cases, when patients are hospitalized, caspofungin, voriconazole and amphotericin B facilitate the treatment of yeast infections.
Bacterial infection is treated with antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, quinolones, amino glycosides and macrolides. These reduce the multiplication process of the bacteria until each one is eliminated from the organism. A combination of antibiotics increases the success rate of the treatment. Antibiotics may be taken orally, injected or applied on the infected spot.
It is important that the antibiotics are administered earlier in the bacterial infection cycle.
Similarities and Differences
- Yeast infection is caused by eukaryotic microorganisms and affects oral and genital organs. Bacterial infection is caused by prokaryote microorganisms affecting skin, lungs, eyes, genital and urinary organs.
- Yeast infection typical symptoms are itching, burning sensation, irritation and whitish discharge. Bacterial infection typical symptoms are local pain, fever, chills and fatigue sensation.
- Yeast infection can be treated with antifungal drugs. Bacterial infection can be treated with antibiotics.
