bacteraemia
Last reviewed 01/2018
The term bacteraemia refers to the transient presence of micro-organisms in the blood. These organisms may originate from a local infection or penetrating injury.
Bacteraemias are often assymptomatic and they are likely to occur commonly during minor instrumentation or surgical procedures for example endoscopy or dental extraction.
Bacteraemias should be distinguished from septicaemias, which are frankly symptomatic and involve organisms actually multiplying in the blood stream.