Bacteremia

Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. It may be brief and harmless or progress to serious infection, depending on the bacteria and the host.

Bloodstream: The circulating blood within the heart and blood vessels. Bacteremia specifically means bacteria are present in this circulating compartment.
Blood culture: A laboratory test that detects microorganisms growing in a blood sample. Blood cultures are the standard test for confirming bacteremia and identifying its cause.
Viremia: The presence of viruses in the bloodstream. It describes bloodstream infection by viruses rather than bacteria.
Urinary tract infection: An infection involving the kidneys, bladder, ureters, or urethra. Urinary infections can spread into blood, especially when infection reaches the kidneys.
Innate immune system: The body’s rapid, nonspecific defenses against infection and tissue damage. Innate defenses usually clear bacteria that enter the blood.
Blood culture contamination: The introduction of microorganisms into a blood-culture sample during collection or processing. A positive culture may reflect contamination rather than bacteria circulating in the patient.
Fungemia: The presence of fungi in the bloodstream. It is the fungal counterpart to bacteremia.
Pneumonia: An infection of lung tissue that inflames the air sacs and may impair gas exchange. Severe pneumonia can allow its causative bacteria to enter the bloodstream.
Endotoxin: A lipopolysaccharide component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that can trigger intense inflammation. Endotoxin released during bloodstream infection can drive systemic inflammation.
Antibiotic susceptibility testing: Laboratory testing that measures how susceptible a microorganism is to antimicrobial drugs. Susceptibility results help select targeted treatment for bacteria recovered from blood.

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