Introduction

Typical vs atypical pathogens

Infection is not the same as inflammation. When a pathogen, virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungus invades the body, there is an interaction between the microbe and the body’s immune defenses resulting in an inflammatory response. For instance, tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils caused by a bacterial infection. Infections of such have a predictable set of symptoms and can easily be measured by conventional laboratory tests. We refer to these “typical” bacteria infections.

Characteristics of typical infections

• They generally have fast reproductive cycles, they are fast growers.

• They make you sick over hours to days.

• They localize in a specific area.

• They cause a predictable symptomatic presentation.

• They will produce the five cardinal signs of inflammation in the area that they are located.

• When they enter a cell they destroy it.

• They have predictable treatment approaches that generally work throughout the population

• They are reliably tested through blood or culture.

A good example of a typical bacteria infection is with strep throat. Strep pharyngitis is caused by a group A Streptococcus bacterial infection of the throat. When exposed, the patient can feel sick within hours; with associated redness, swelling and pus of the throat and tonsils, swollen lymph glands, and fever. This infection can be positively identified by culturing the throat. Then, it is effectively treated with penicillin. This pattern is consistent, predictable, and easily treated. Of course, we can not overlook these typical infections as they can cause serious health problems.

How are the “atypical” pathogens different?

There are also infections that can cause “atypical” inflammatory conditions. These conditions are caused by what we call “atypical” or “silent” infections. Lyme and all of the possible co-infections (Bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites etc…) are all part of this “atypical'' inflammatory category.

Characteristics of “atypical” bacterial Infections