Prevention

There are two key ways to prevent bacterial infections. The first is sanitation and hygiene, which are daily, front-line defenses in minimizing your exposure to disease-causing organisms. The second is immunization, which fortifies your immune system for years against specific infections. Bacterial infections or bacterial toxins for which immunizations have been developed include tetanus, diphtheria, borditella pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type b (a significant cause of meningitis in children), typhoid, cholera, plague, some strains of pneumococcus that cause pneumonia and some strains of meningococcus that cause meningitis.

Below are some recommended immunizations for infants and children to prevent bacterial disease. Combination vaccines, which protect against several agents at once, can help reduce the number of injections needed to fully immunize children. (Note: this chart does not include recommended immunizations against viruses. Also, although most of these immunizations are given before the age of two, some may also be given to older children with certain medical conditions. Ask your pediatrician about your child's immunization needs.)

More on Bacterial Infections

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.