Bacteria and viruses: the difference

In short: Bacteria are single-celled organisms with their own metabolism; viruses are small packages of genetic material without their own metabolism that need host cells to reproduce. This has consequences for treatment.

In more detail: Antibiotics work against bacteria, not against viruses.

In detail

• Bacteria: About 1 to 5 micrometres in size, multiply by division; many are useful (gut flora, yoghurt).
• Pathogens among bacteria: Salmonella, streptococci, Borrelia (ticks).
• Viruses: Ten to a hundred times smaller; influenza, cold, measles, corona viruses.
• Reproduction: Viruses hijack cells and make them produce new viruses.
• Treatment: Bacterial infections with antibiotics (antibiotika-und-resistenzen), viral ones partly with antivirals.
• Prevention: Vaccinations against many viruses and some bacteria (impfungen-grundlagen).
• Hygiene: Handwashing protects against both (haende-waschen-und-hygiene).
• Immune system: Recognises and fights both (immunsystem-grundlagen).