Bacteria can spread from people, animals, and objects through:

• contaminated foods and drinks
• sneezing and coughing
• touching something that has been contaminated before touching the eyes, nose, mouth, penis or vagina
• cuts in the skin.

A bacterial infection is when harmful bacteria grow and cause: 

• fever
• headaches
• sore throat
• coughing with mucus
• weakness
• pain
• skin blisters and redness
• vomiting
• diarrhea – watery poo that is difficult to control.

Some common bacterial infections include:

• salmonella – a type of food poisoning
• cellulitis and impetigo –skin infections
• strep throat – sore throat caused by bacteria
• pneumococcal disease – infection in the ears, sinuses, and lungs
• chlamydia and gonorrhoea – infections of the penis and vagina, spread by sexual contact.

Bacterial infections are treated using antibiotics. Antibiotics are medications that kill bacteria or stop them from growing.

Some antibiotics work on many types of bacteria and are commonly given by doctors to treat an infection. These are called broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Other types of antibiotics are very specific and can only work on certain types of bacteria.

Multi-resistant organisms (MROs) are bacteria that cannot be killed with common or broad-spectrum antibiotics. 

MROs are not any more dangerous than other bacteria, but they are harder to treat if they cause an infection.

MROs have very long names that usually include the specific antibiotic they are resistant to.

Common MROs include:

• MRSA - methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aurous
• VRE - vancomycin-resistant enterococci
• CRE - carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae
• ESBL - extended spectrum beta lactamase producing organisms.

MROs grow naturally in the environment and have become resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics over time. 

MROs can live in the body without causing issues and spread from person to person easily. 

MROs can grow, change, and spread easily, especially in places like hospitals. They can become more resistant to different, more specialised antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health issue. It happens when bacteria learn how to survive antibiotics that used to kill them.

This can happen when:

• antibiotics are used too often
• people stop taking antibiotics before the course is finished.

The more this happens, the more likely it is that bacteria will become resistant to more types of antibiotics. This means fewer treatment options and a higher risk of serious or life-threatening illness.

If someone gets sick with an MRO infection, they may need stronger and more expensive antibiotics, which can cause more side effects.

People at higher risk of serious illness from antibiotic-resistant infections include:

• babies and young children
• people with other health problems
• people with weak immune systems
• people having treatments like chemotherapy.

You can stop the growth and spread of MROs by:

• washing hands regularly with soap and water
• finishing your full course of antibiotics, even when you start to feel better
• not keeping leftover antibiotics for later.

MROs can spread easily in hospitals. If your child carries an MRO, they may be placed in their own room. Staff may wear gowns and masks to stop the bacteria from spreading. This is called infection control.