The Good, the Bad and the Bacteria

When you hear the word ‘bacteria’ you might think, infections, open wounds and hospital stays. However, in medicine, bacteria can't only cause problems but also solve them.

Bacteria are very diverse. They all thrive in different environments while differing in size, shapes and genetics. Due to this, some bacteria may be life-threatening and cause diseases such as tuberculosis or pneumonia, while others are used to save lives by using them to make antibiotics. That’s right, you can use bacteria to kill other bacteria!

We also have several different strains and species of bacteria that live within us, which vary immensely. Many people label these bacteria as “good bacteria” as they help our bodies digest complex foods, defend our immune system and produce vitamins. In contrast, “bad bacteria” are known to cause diseases, as mentioned before.

Many people get anxious when they hear the word ‘bacteria’. They find it unsettling to know that bacteria live on our eyelashes, fingernails and skin. However, modern medical research is helping us understand that an imbalance between “good” and “bad” bacteria is not favorable and can cause gut issues. This isn’t to say that the more bacteria our bodies harbor the better. Rather it is okay to have bacteria in your body, good and bad as they work together to keep the body in a healthy state.