Knowra Bloodstream infection Bloodstream infection A bloodstream infection occurs when bacteria, fungi, or other pathogens enter and multiply in the blood. It can trigger sepsis but is not synonymous with sepsis.
Bacteremia : The presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, which may be transient or associated with infection. Bacteria in blood are a common form of bloodstream infection, though bacteremia alone does not prove active infection.
Blood culture : A laboratory test that incubates blood samples to detect viable bacteria or fungi. Cultures can identify the pathogen and guide treatment, though results may take time.
Blood : A circulating tissue composed of plasma, red cells, white cells, and platelets. Blood is the normally protected compartment in which pathogens are detected during this infection.
Septic shock : A severe form of sepsis involving circulatory and cellular abnormalities with persistent hypotension despite fluid resuscitation. Some bloodstream infections progress to septic shock when infection triggers profound circulatory failure.
Fungemia : The presence of fungi in the bloodstream, especially yeasts such as Candida. Fungi can multiply in blood and cause bloodstream infections distinct from bacterial disease.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing : Laboratory testing that measures how susceptible a microorganism is to antimicrobial drugs. Susceptibility results help select drugs that are active against the bloodstream isolate.
Pathogen : A biological agent capable of causing disease in a host. Different pathogens, including bacteria and fungi, can cause bloodstream infection.
Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome : Progressive dysfunction of multiple organ systems during severe illness. A systemic response to bloodstream infection can impair organs beyond the original site.
Sepsis : Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response to infection. A bloodstream infection can lead to sepsis, but sepsis can also arise from infections outside the blood.
Empiric therapy : Treatment begun before a causative organism or its drug sensitivities are fully known. Severe suspected bloodstream infection often requires treatment before culture results are available.
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