infectious diseases
Bacteremia
Introduction
Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. It can occur spontaneously, during certain tissue infections, with use of indwelling genitourinary or IV catheters, or after dental, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, wound-care, or other procedures. Bacteremia may cause metastatic infections, including endocarditis, especially in patients with valvular heart abnormalities. Transient bacteremia is often asymptomatic but may cause fever. Development of other symptoms usually suggests more serious infection, such as sepsis or septic shock. ( See Neonatal Sepsis ; see Bacteremia may be transient and cause no sequelae, or it may have metastatic or systemic consequences. Systemic consequences include Sepsis and Septic Shock (previously referred to as systemic inflammatory response syndrome) Sepsis and Septic Shock None 