Difference between Bacteria and Microorganisms

Key Difference: Bacteria (singular: bacterium) are single celled micro-organisms that belong to the group of Prokaryotics. Microorganism refers to any of the organisms that can only be seen under a microscope. Bacteria are also microorganisms.

Bacteria are single celled microorganisms that have a varied range of metabolic types, geometric shapes and environmental habitats. Their structure lack nucleus and customarily have no organelles.

Microorganisms include all the organisms that cannot be viewed by the naked eye. Hence, a microscope is used to see these kinds of organisms. This is due to the small size of these organisms.

Some of the characteristics of both are listed below in the table:-

	Bacteria	Microorganisms
Definition	Bacteria are single celled microorganisms that belong to the group of Prokaryotics.	A small life form that requires a microscope for it to be seen.
Habitat	Bacteria are found everywhere. They can survive and thrive in water, on skin, surfaces, carpet, earth, stone and especially dead flesh.	Microbes thrive on land, in the oceans and on human skin. They even survive in extreme places like near deep-sea vents.
Domain	Prokaryote	Prokaryote, Eukaryote
Nucleus	Absent	Depends upon the type of microorganism
Size	A few micrometers in length	Variable size, but all are tiny
Shape	Come in three different possible shapes:- Cocci - sphere shape Bacilli - rod shape Spirella - spiral shape	Bacteria come in various shapes:- Cocci - sphere shape Bacilli - rod shape Spirella - spiral shape Algae - some are round and others are oval. Some look like leaves and others like fat commas. Protozoa Ciliates - which have hair-like projections called cilia Amoebae- which can be subdivided into the testate amoebae, which have a shell-like covering on their blob-like body, and the naked amoebae Flagellates- which have one or several long, whip-like projections called flagella poking out of their cells. Viruses- Polyhedral or multi-sided.
Usefulness	Some are useful	Used in larger scale production of alcohol, cine and acetic acid. Used in the making of antibiotic tablets, capsules or injections like penicillin. In the vaccines and for increasing soil fertility.
Antibiotics	Kill Bacteria.	May or may not affect, depending upon the type of micro-organisms.
Diseases Caused	Cholera, tuberculosis, lyme disease, pertussus, salmonella, staph infections, strep throat, leprosy, tetanus, diptheria, E.coli, flesh eating (necrotizing fascitis) rickets, etc.	Cholera (bacteria), Polio (virus), Malaria (Protozoa), etc.
Source of Energy	Phototrophs that use light as energy source. Chemotrophs, which use organic and inorganic chemicals as energy source.	Hetrotrophs that rely on other organisms for food. Phototrophs that use light as energy source. Chemotrophs, which use organic and inorganic chemicals as energy source. Autotrops capture energy stored in the environment as sulfur compounds, or similar.
Living	Yes	Yes, but also includes virus (considered to be non-living)
How they are transmitted	Direct contact with an infected person Contaminated food or water (Salmonella, E.coli) Dirty objects (tetanus) Infected animals (rabies)	Through air Through contact with animals Through contaminated food Through touch Through water
Reproduction	Bacteria reproduce through binary fission, they split into two cells.	Microorganisms reproduce through sexual or asexual reproduction, depends upon the type of microorganism.
Motility	Many of the bacteria move through the environment using a structure known as the flagellum.	Depends on the type of microorganism:- Molds are non- motile, Cyanobacteria can glide. Amoeboid Protozoan and Euglena are capable of moving across solid surfaces, most of the Bacteria can move, etc.
Examples	Lactobacillus, nitrogen-fixing Bacteria, Bifidobacterium, Helicobacter pylori, Staphylococcus, etc.	Types of microorganisms include Bacteria, Mold and Mildew.