Introduction
Infectious diseases have always been and remain dangerous for the human body because of their ability to affect a large number of healthy people in a short period. Viruses are the carriers and contributors of human genetic information, which can be transmitted both sexually and asexually. In medical terms, these microorganisms are pathogens, the causative agents of infections. The number of illnesses caused by viruses is large, and many ailments are extremely dangerous, for instance, HIV. In microbiology, there is such a term as a nanobacterium – it is the particle of the minimal size that can penetrate a living organism. Often, nanobacteria cause infectious diseases, which, in turn, are not easy to treat because of deep tissue damage. The danger of such particles is that their behavior is not fully understood, and the risk of developing coexisting illnesses remains. Therefore, the implications of nanobacterial infections are the topic that deserves discussion and detailed consideration for determining the most frequent ailments and the ways of their treatment.
The Danger of Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases differ from other illnesses with the fact that such ailments can result in a large-scale epidemic and affect many people. That is why doctors pay close attention to patients with certain symptoms. To prevent the further spreading of infection among the healthy population, it is recommended for people to be isolated, and special care should be taken when performing hygiene procedures. The causative agents of some diseases live and reproduce only in the human body, and they die when they are in the external environment. However, some viruses and bacteria remain viable due to their ability to stop their life cycle temporarily. After finding themselves in a favorable temperature regime and humidity, they begin to multiply again. According to Ansari, Sepahi, and Sepahi (2017), “one of the most controversial issues about nanobacteria relates to its resistance to physical and chemical agents as well as its strong heat resistance” (p. 5001). Therefore, the risk of infections is significant, and the study of this issue is topical.
Nanobacteria in Infectology
Nanobacteria represent a relatively new chapter in infectology and are the area for active learning. Although many issues concerning the detection of nanoparticles have not been finally solved, it is proved that these microorganisms are “known as calcifying nanoparticles” and were first described in 1998 (Yaghobee, Bayani, Samiei, & Jahedmanesh, 2015, p. 826). Throughout the developmental stages of infectology as a science, different trends have appeared. Today, an increase in the proportion of infectious illnesses’ chronic forms is a typical phenomenon in medicine. The actualization of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms is the factor that requires the increased attention on the part of microbiologists (Kutikhin et al., 2014). The danger of nanobacteria is due to not only the severity of diseases but also due to a complicated treatment that requires careful monitoring. The repeated infection of the organism, arising in the background of incomplete primary illnesses, is particularly dangerous. Therefore, the search for ways of timely identification and interventions is one of the priorities of modern science.
Various forms of infections manifestation caused by nanobacteria belong to different areas of medicine such as oncology, surgery, hematology, and other areas. This spread necessitates intensive work concerning the elimination of opportunities for the development of a favorable environment for the multiplication of nanoparticles and their impact on the human body. Modern infectology does not always cope with the outbreaks of epidemics, and the Ebola virus is the confirmation of such a threat. Thus, urgent measures are necessary, and knowledge about the causes of diseases and the features of their manifestations is essential.
The Causes of Nanobacterial Infections
There are several classes of nanobacteria that become lethal after they are embedded in the host cell. These genes start the synthesis of protein substances in cells, which destroys the protective and regulatory systems. Among them, it is possible to name oncology genes, apoptosis, and those that are capable of launching the synthesis of proteins in different tissues, causing autoimmune reactions. All the types of pathogenic microorganisms have different virulence, which means that under equal conditions, one type of bacteria will be more toxic to humans than another one.
There are different causes and ways of transmitting infections through nanobacteria. A contact-household method is one of the frequent ways of infection through public objects. With food, harmful microorganisms can penetrate healthy cells, for instance, through contaminated water. According to Cho and Min (2015), the sexual mode of bacteria transmission is often the cause of venereal diseases and the illnesses of the genitourinary system. As Kutikhin et al. (2014) note, a child in the womb may be infected with harmful microorganisms transplacentally when certain bacteria are transmitted from a mother. Laboratory research is the basic method for detecting a particular ailment in adult patients and children. For analysis, materials containing infections are taken – phlegm, saliva, mucus, blood, and urine. In case timely assistance is not available, dangerous consequences may occur.
The Forms of the Manifestation of Nanobacterial Infections
The clinical picture for nanobacterial diseases can be different. The emergence of specific symptoms depends on the type of pathogen, its location, the state of the patient’s organism, and the degree of the pathological process. A particular microorganism may enter the human body but does not cause the development of pathology immediately. A patient can be the carrier of the infection for a long time and not even suspect it. However, under the influence of provoking factors (stress, hypothermia, viral infections, and others), the activation of the pathogen may occur, and the disease will enter the open phase.
The manifestations of the infection caused by nanobacteria may be different. For instance, Ansari et al. (2017) note that “the biomineralization ability of nanobacteria may lead to calcification of the soft tissues, which in turn may result in other diseases” like stones in kidneys (p. 5001). Cho and Min (2015) focus on men’s diseases and mention prostatitis as one of the manifestations of infection. According to the authors, nanobacteria “commonly occur in prostatic stones,” which is the cause of severe discomfort and pain (Cho & Min, 2015, p. 93). As already mentioned, Kutikhin et al. (2014) researched the effect of microorganisms on the process of bearing the fetus in the womb and, in particular, the placenta state. As they argue, “placental calcification may be definitely added to the list of CNP-caused pathologies,” which explains the need for proper and careful treatment (Kutikhin et al., 2014, p. 4). In general, the situation is complicated by the fact that nanobacteria infections can “also be present in healthy adults” and manifest eventually (Yaghobee et al., 2015, p. 830). Therefore, it is essential to take tests timely and observe all the necessary precautions.
The Treatment of Nanobacterial Infections
As the treatment for nanobacterial infections, appropriate medications are prescribed. They can be bacteriostatic and stop the growth, propagation, and reproduction of bacteria and bactericidal that destroy microorganisms. It should be noted that there is a possibility of the development of antibiotic resistance when the causative agent of a particular illness adapts to the medication, and the medicine ceases to function. Along with antibiotics, the treatment of bacterial diseases includes the prescription of prebiotics and probiotics, which help restore the composition of useful intestinal microflora and prevent the development of dysbacteriosis. In addition, the reception of multivitamin complexes and drugs for strengthening immune defense are prescribed, which may contribute to improving well-being and increasing the resistance level to a certain illness. If the treatment process is correct and a patient complies with all the physicians’ recommendations, the outcomes of infectious ailments may be favorable, and no serious consequences appear in the future.
Conclusion
The implications of nanobacterial infections may be dangerous, and specific attention should be paid to the issues of determining and treating such illnesses. There are different ways of microorganisms’ penetrating the human body, and they are all studied to find the best options for prevention. The forms of such infections manifestations may be represented by various illnesses in men and women, adults and children, and in each case, appropriate treatment is prescribed. Careful compliance with proper therapy and specific measures aimed at preventing infection can help to avoid danger.
References
Ansari, H., Sepahi, A. A., & Sepahi, M. A. (2017). Different approaches to detect “nanobacteria” in patients with kidney stones: An infectious cause or a subset of life? Urology Journal, 14(5), 5001-5007. Web.
Cho, I. C., & Min, S. K. (2015). Proposed new pathophysiology of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Urogenital Tract Infection, 10(2), 92-101. Web.
Kutikhin, A. G., Yuzhalin, A. E., Borisov, V. V., Velikanova, E. A., Frolov, A. V., Sakharova, V. M.,… Golovkin, A. S. (2014). Calcifying nanoparticles: One face of distinct entities? Frontiers in Microbiology, 5(214), 1-5. Web.
Yaghobee, S., Bayani, M., Samiei, N., & Jahedmanesh, N. (2015). What are the nanobacteria? Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment, 29(5), 826-833. Web.