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Pathogens Essay

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Pathogens Essay
Pathogens are everywhere. They are in people, animals, and the environment. Pathogens come in a wide variety. The types are fungal, bacterial, viral, and other parasites. All pathogens can be dangerous, but two of them are more dangerous. These two types that more dangerous are fungal and bacterial. While both fungal and bacterial pathogens cause illness, they differ in the way they are transmitted, the way they are treated, and the diseases they cause. First, the way fungal and bacterial pathogens are transmitted is different. Most fungal pathogens are not transmitted person to person but instead by inhaling fungal spores. On the other hand bacterial pathogens are transmitted in many ways like through touch and air. Bacterial pathogens are also transmitted by bodily fluids. The most common infection that is transmitted by airborne pathogens is Tuberculosis. Some of the Bacterial diseases that are transmitted Group A Streptococcus, Invasive Group B Streptococcal, Haemophilus influenza. Some bacterial diseases transmitted by bodily fluids are Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and Chancroid. Second, they are different in the way they are treated. Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics pills. Penicillin was discovered in the 1920s by a British scientist named Alexander Fleming. Fleming almost accidently discovered the natural growing substance. He named it Penicillin after the Penicillium mold that made it. The first antibiotic discovered that could attack certain bacteria was Penicillin. In 1940 two scientists, Howard Florey and Ernest Chain, were researching projects in bacteriology looking for ways to enhance or continue with chemistry. Using chemistry they created a brown powder that kept its power for more than a few days. After experimenting they found it to be safe. It was needed right away on the front lines of World War II so mass production started right away. Penicillin saved many lives that would have


References: Rosenberg, J. (n.d.). Alexander Fleming Discovers Penicillin. Retrieved from http://history1900s.about.com/od/medicaladvancesissues/a/penicillin.htm Antifungal medication. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifungal_medication Hidalgo, J. A. (1994-2013). Candidiasis. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213853-overview#showall Chan-Tack, K. M. (1994-2013). Botulism. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/213311-overview#show Lyme Disease. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002296/ Gonorrhea. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0004526/

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