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Common Infections: Bacteria

Nursing Knowledge

Common Infections: Bacteria

Bacterial infections are a common occurrence in clinical nursing practice, so nurses need to be proficient in identifying and managing these infections. Understanding the causative agents of these infections is essential for effective treatment and prevention. This guide provides a quick overview of the most common bacteria that cause infections in each body system.

Last updated: December 15, 2025

Tip: Download the complete list of common infection-causing bacteria visually sorted by body system!

What are the most common bacterial infections?

Bacterial infections are common in various parts of the body. Examples of common bacterial infections include:

Strep throat (Staphylococcus pyogenes)
Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
UTIs
Bacterial pneumonia
Bacterial meningitis
Cellulitis
Lyme disease
STIs (syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia)

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Causes of common skin infections

The most common skin infections are caused by:

Staphylococcus aureus (skin, soft tissues)
Streptococcus pyogenes (impetigo)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (blood, lungs)

Causes of the most common sexually transmitted diseases

The most common bacteria causing STIs are:

Chlamydia trachomatis
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Treponema pallidum
Ureaplasma urealyticum
Haemophilus ducreyi

Otitis media causes

Otitis media is most often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Causes of upper respiratory tract infections

Infections of the upper respiratory tract are often caused by:

Streptococcus pyogenes
Haemophilus influenzae

Gastritis causes

Gastritis is most often caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Common causes of urinary tract infections

UTIs are often caused by:

Escherichia coli
Other Enterobacteriaceae
Staphylococcus saprophyticus
Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Causes of bacterial meningitis

Bacterial meningitis is often caused by:

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Neisseria meningitidis
Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus agalactiae
Listeria monocytogenes

Pneumonia causes

Causes of community-acquired pneumonia:

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae
Staphylococcus aureus

Causes of atypical pneumonia:

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Chlamydia pneumoniae
Legionella pneumophila

Tuberculosis causes

Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Common causes of eye infections

Eye infections are commonly caused by:

Staphylococcus aureus
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Chlamydia trachomatis

Sinusitis causes

Sinusitis is commonly caused by:

Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae

Common causes of food poisoning

Common bacterial causes of food poisoning include:

Campylobacter jejuni
Salmonella
Shigella
Clostridium
Staphylococcus aureus
Escherichia coli

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FREE CHEAT SHEET

Common Infections: Bacteria

Free Download

Nursing Cheat Sheet

Different bacteria infect different areas of the body. With this cheat sheet you’ll have a better idea of what bugs might be infecting your patient!

Master the topic with a unique study combination of a concise summary paired with video lectures.

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