infections
Bacteremia
Introduction
Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteremia may result from ordinary activities (such as vigorous toothbrushing), dental or medical procedures, or from infections (such as Overview of Pneumonia or a Having an artificial joint or heart valve or having heart valve abnormalities increases the risk that bacteremia will persist or cause problems. Bacteremia usually causes no symptoms, but sometimes bacteria accumulate in certain tissues or organs and cause serious infections. People at high risk of complications from bacteremia are given antibiotics before certain dental and medical procedures. (See also Introduction to Bacteremia, Sepsis, and Septic Shock and Usually, bacteremia, particularly if it occurs during ordinary activities, does not cause infections because bacteria typically are present only in small numbers and are rapidly removed from the bloodstream by the immune system. However, if bacteria are present long enough and in large enough numbers, particularly in people who have a weakened immune system, bacteremia can lead to other infections and sometimes trigger a serious bodywide response called Sepsis and Septic Shock . Bacteria that are not removed by the immune system may accumulate in various places throughout the body, causing infections there, as in the following: Tissues that cover the brain ( ) The sac around the heart ( Acute Pericarditis ) The cells lining the heart valves ( ) Bones ( Osteomyelitis ) Joints ( Infectious Arthritis ) In bacteremia, bacteria tend to lodge and collect on certain body structures, such as abnormal heart valves. Bacteria are particularly likely to collect on any artificial material present in the body, such as intravenous catheters and artificial (prosthetic) joints and heart valves. These collections (colonies) of bacteria may remain attached to the sites and continuously or periodically release bacteria into the bloodstream. 