Bacterial infections can spread through various means, such as direct contact, airborne transmission, and contaminated food or water. For example, Staphylococcus aureus can spread through skin-to-skin contact, while Mycobacterium tuberculosis spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Foodborne illnesses caused by bacteria like Salmonella and Escherichia coli occur when people consume contaminated food or water.
