bakterievaksiner

Bakterievaksiner are vaccines designed to protect against bacterial infections. They work by stimulating the body's immune system to recognize and fight specific bacteria. This is typically achieved by introducing a weakened or inactive form of the bacterium, or a specific component of it, into the body. This "foreign" material, known as an antigen, triggers an immune response without causing the disease itself. The immune system then develops memory cells that can quickly identify and neutralize the actual pathogen if the individual is exposed to it in the future.

There are several types of bakterievaksiner. Some use whole bacteria that have been killed (inactivated) or weakened (attenuated). Others use only specific parts of the bacteria, such as the outer shell (capsule) or toxins produced by the bacteria that have been rendered harmless (toxoids). Examples of common bakterievaksiner include vaccines against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), pneumococcal disease, and meningococcal disease. These vaccines are crucial public health tools, significantly reducing the incidence and severity of many dangerous bacterial infections worldwide. They are administered through injections and are often part of routine childhood immunization schedules.