Which of the following is a characteristic of bacterial infections?

Bacterial infections are characterized by their susceptibility to antibiotics, which are designed to target and kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics work by interfering with specific processes in bacterial cells, such as cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or DNA replication. This ability to treat bacterial infections effectively distinguishes them from viral infections, which require antiviral medications that work in different mechanisms since viruses utilize host cellular machinery to replicate.

The other options do not accurately represent characteristics of bacterial infections. For instance, antiviral drugs are specific for viruses and are not effective against bacterial infections. Additionally, while some bacterial infections can be asymptomatic, many cause noticeable symptoms; thus, stating that all are asymptomatic is incorrect. Lastly, bacterial infections can indeed be influenced by various environmental factors, such as temperature and nutrient availability, which can affect bacterial growth and pathogenicity.