Bacteria vs. Germs

Bacteria are tiny, one-celled creatures that get nutrients from their environments in order to live. Bacteria can reproduce outside of the body or within the body as they cause infections. Bacteria is a type of germ and can be either good or bad. There are bacteria that live in water, soil, air, clouds, carpet, the ocean, and inside your body. There are bacteria types ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of different species.

Germs are tiny organisms, or living things, that can cause disease. The four major types of germs are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. They can invade plants, animals, and people. Viruses need to be inside living cells to grow and reproduce. Fungi are multi-celled, plant-like organisms. Unlike other plants, fungi cannot make their own food from soil, water, and air. Instead, fungi get their nutrition from plants, people, and animals. Protozoa are one-cell organisms that love moisture and often spread diseases through water. Some protozoa cause intestinal infections that lead to diarrhea, nausea, and pain.

All bacteria are germs, but not all germs are bacteria.