Page 6 - GPHS Environmental Public Health Standards (Foundation of Public Health) v1

What are bacteria?

 Bacteria are microscopic living

organisms that have only one cell. The

word for just one is “bacterium.”

 Most bacteria are harmless, but certain

types can make you sick. These bacteria
are a type of pathogen. Pathogens are

microorganisms that can cause disease.
They can reproduce quickly in your body

and give off poisons (toxins) that can
cause infection.