bacterial infection

Cultural  

1. An infection caused by bacteria. The growth of many disease-causing bacteria can be halted by the use of antibiotics. (Compare viral infection.)

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Diseases caused by bacterial infections include diphtheria, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever.

Example Sentences

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is spread through the bite of infected black-legged ticks — also known as deer ticks.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

Among them was a pregnant mother whose toddler was hospitalized; she said she caught his bacterial infection and had a miscarriage at 20 weeks.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

Citrus greening disease is caused by a bacterial infection that is delivered by the gnawing of the Asian citrus psyllid.

From Slate • Apr. 20, 2026

A deadly virus and bacterial infection have killed at least 72 tigers at a private animal park in Thailand's north in recent weeks, authorities said.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

And many men also suffered from trench mouth, a severe bacterial infection of the gums, another hazard of life in the trenches, caused by poor diet, poor hygiene, and smoking.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman