Final answer:
Characteristic signs and symptoms of a bacterial infection include a range of systemic and local effects such as fever, aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and inflammation, varying based on infection site, with diagnosis often requiring testing to determine the specific pathogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristic signs and symptoms of bacterial infection vary depending on the part of the body affected. For infections of the skin, symptoms can range from superficial to severe, often necessitating antimicrobial susceptibility testing due to antibiotic resistance. In the case of bacterial infections of the circulatory and lymphatic systems, there are no details provided, but symptoms often include systemic effects such as fever and aches. When considering bacterial gastrointestinal infections, common symptoms include vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and inflammation of the stomach and intestines. Foodborne illnesses can cause similar symptoms, while more severe infections such as bacterial meningitis may present with headache, fever, confusion, and other alarming neurological symptoms. Urinary tract infections may manifest as fever, abdominal pain, and bloody urine, with diagnosis often aided by a urine culture.