Common types of bacterial lung infections include pneumonia and tuberculosis, states WebMD. The bacterial strain Streptococcus pneumoniae primarily causes pneumonia, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes pulmonary tuberculosis, or TB.
Pneumonia damages the pulmonary air sacs in the lungs called alveoli. This condition may be bacterial, fungal or viral in origin, although other pathogenic agents and environmental factors are also known causes of the disease. People of all ages acquire bacterial pneumonia, which can develop on its own or occur following a severe cold or flu episode, explains Healthline.
Other bacterial species can also cause pneumonia, including Chlamydophila pneumonia and Legionella pneumophila. Individuals with compromised immune systems are also susceptible to pneumonia through an infection from Pneumocystis jiroveci.
TB is a slow, progressive form of pneumonia. This communicable disease can spread and cause damage to other body organs. People acquire primary TB through inhalation of air droplets from the expelled air of an infected individual, notes MedlinePlus.
Exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis may not manifest for some time, and the infection can remain dormant for years. In some cases, infected people may experience symptoms of the disease within weeks of exposure. These symptoms include breathing difficulty, thoracic discomfort, cough accompanied by mucus, excessive night sweating, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, abnormally high body temperature and wheezing.
