Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke is one of the latest victims of a bacterial infection, revealing Sunday that he had been temporarily hospitalized.
Bacterial infections refer to when bacteria enter the body through an opening in the skin, such as a cut or surgical wound, or an airway, and multiply in number, causing a reaction. Some examples of bacterial infections include food poisoning, eye infections, strep throat, pneumonia, bacterial meningitis, and urinary tract infections.
BETO O’ROURKE HOSPITALIZED WITH BACTERIAL INFECTION, POSTPONES CAMPAIGN EVENTS
“After feeling ill on Friday, I went to Methodist Hospital in San Antonio where I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection,” O’Rourke said Sunday. “The extraordinary team there — from custodians to nurses and doctors — gave me excellent care and attention, including IV antibiotics and rest.”
O’Rourke did not specify what type of bacterial infection he had been diagnosed with but said his symptoms were improving as he recuperates in his El Paso residence.
Symptoms accompanying bacterial infections can vary widely but generally include fever, fatigue, headache, nausea or vomiting, and swollen lymph nodes. Bacterial infections can range from mild to severe. Meningococcal meningitis is typically a life-threatening bacterial infection that affects the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Food poisoning can also be caused by bacteria, such as salmonella, through consuming contaminated food.
Some severe or untreated bacterial infections can cause sepsis, the body’s life-threatening response to an infection, which could lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
Bacterial infections are commonly spread through contact with contaminated surfaces such as food and water, contact with infected individuals, or coughing and sneezing.
While not all types of bacterial infections can be prevented, individuals can reduce the spread of them by washing their hands regularly, covering their mouths when coughing, and avoiding sharing personal items such as a razor or a cup, according to Health Direct.
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Most bacterial infections are successfully treated with antibiotics, though some strains of bacteria can be resistant, causing difficulty treating them.
Antimicrobial resistance, referring to bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi that no longer respond to medications, making them harder to treat or prevent the spread of, has become a public health concern. Antimicrobial-resistant infections and deaths that originated in hospitals rose at least 15% during the first year of the pandemic in 2021 compared to 2020, according to a June report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
