True or False? Pathogenic bacteria are necessary for any bacterial infection to occur.

The statement that pathogenic bacteria are necessary for any bacterial infection to occur is true. Pathogenic bacteria are defined as those bacteria that are harmful and can cause disease in a host. These microorganisms have specialized mechanisms that enable them to invade the host's tissues, evade the immune response, and cause damage, which leads to an infection.

Non-pathogenic bacteria, on the other hand, are generally harmless and can even be beneficial as they are involved in processes like digestion and maintaining a balanced microbial environment in the body. Infections specifically arise from the action of pathogenic bacteria, not from non-pathogenic organisms.

While certain factors, such as a person’s immune status and environmental conditions, can influence the development and severity of an infection, it is ultimately pathogenic bacteria that are responsible for causing the infection itself. Therefore, the accurate understanding of bacterial infections hinges on recognizing the role of pathogenic bacteria.