When bacteria penetrate the body, bacterial infections can take place. They can be transmitted through eating contaminated food, breathing in droplets from an infected person, and a cut on your skin, among other living carriers. Bacteria can multiply exponentially, thus resulting in your body’s immune reaction.
Some bacterial infections can be fended off by the body’s immune system, and some may need supplementary antibiotics to fight off the bacteria. While many manageable bacterial infections, many of them can progress into something more serious, like cancer. To understand the link between bacterial infection and cancer, here’s a simple overview of the topic we have prepared for you.
Bacterial Infections and Cancer
Initially, bacterial infections are considered a crucial factor in animal cancer progression. However, lately, they are also proven to be associated with the development of a few cancers among humans. While bacteria aren’t considered major causes of cancer, they can be agents affecting the pacing of cancer progression.
Role of Chronic Inflammation in Cancer Progression
Inflammation is a normal occurrence in the body. When you get a cut on your skin, you will see that the area surrounding the cut will swell. This inflammatory response gives way to rebuilding injured tissues in the body. When bacteria injure tissues in the body, the damaged cells release histamine, prostaglandins, and bradykinin, chemicals that cause the blood vessels to leak fluid into the tissues, thus causing swelling.
While a simple inflammation can be manageable, chronic inflammation can lead to something more severe, like tumor growth and metastasis. Chronic inflammation can result in cell mutation, proliferation, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, prompting a conducive environment for tumor growth, which can be cancerous.
Examples of Chronic Inflammation and Associated Cancers
As mentioned, specific cancers are linked with chronic inflammation caused by bacterial infections. Here’s a list of associated cancers with chronic inflammation and how each develops in the body.
Helicobacter Pylori and Gastric Cancer
H. pylori is a bacteria that infects the stomach lining. In most cases, this bacteria can be transmitted through contaminated food and water. You won’t experience any severe symptoms with H. pylori infection that’s why many might have it but won’t even know they have it.
While antibiotics can treat these infections, a few cases can lead to cancer. H. pylori infection prompts precancerous lesions, which may advance to atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. This bacteria can cause persistent swelling, pain, and irritation, also known as severe chronic atrophic gastritis and stomach ulcers, ultimately leading to cancer. Stomach cancer, or non-cardia gastric cancer, is the most common type of cancer triggered by H. pylori.
Salmonella typhi and Gallbladder Cancer
Salmonella typhi can cause gallbladder cancer. It is an oncogenic bacteria that alter the immune system and induce gallbladder cancer. This type of bacteria releases carcinogenic toxic molecules during the chronic phase. The worst is that it’s asymptomatic as it facilitates the process of converting normal cells into carcinogenic cells. Gallbladder cancer is among other types of cancer with a high malignancy rate. Since it’s located deeper in the human body, early detection can be difficult that’s why many patients only get the treatment required in the lethal stage of the cancer.
Streptococcus Bovis and Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is among the issues associated with S. bovis (Streptococcus Bovis). S. bovis biotype I infection, compared to S. bovis biotype II is more likely to develop into colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is life-threatening, so regular check-ups and screenings are required. A full bowel examination is highly recommended for patients with this type of infection.
Detections and Preventions of Bacterial Infections Associated with Cancers
The cancers we have mentioned in this article can be fatal. While early detection can be impossible in some cases, you must know how to detect and prevent the bacterial infections associated with cancers.
- Antibiotic Treatment
Antibiotic treatment can kill bacteria and slowdowns or prevents bacteria from reproducing. Moreover, they help the body’s immune system fight the bacteria. Different kinds of antibiotic medications work with the different systems of the body. The cost of each antibiotic also vary. For instance, for chest infections, average azithromycin cost per dose: $1.00. For bladder and kidney infections, ciprofloxacin can cost $.30- $1.29.
- Bacteria Culture Test
This method is done by getting a sample from the different parts of your body, depending on where the infection is suspected to originate. The different types of bacteria culture tests are blood culture, cerebrospinal fluid culture, stool culture, throat culture, sputum culture, urine culture, and wound culture.
- Vaccination
Bacterial vaccines contain dead or attenuated bacteria that are highly effective tools for activating the immune system. There are also vaccines, like tetanus vaccines, that don’t contain bacteria. They are infections induced by the harmful toxins produced by bacteria, so the harmless version of the toxins will be contained in vaccines to fight off the harmful toxins in the body.
Conclusion
Untreated bacterial infections can lead to more complicated health conditions like cancer. While the probability is low, it’s important to consider early detection. This way, you can take appropriate steps toward overcoming the illness. Follow the doctor’s orders to recover promptly if prescribed treatment and medication.
