Bacteremia is most commonly diagnosed by blood culture, in which a sample of blood drawn from the vein by needle puncture is allowed to incubate with a medium that promotes bacterial growth. If bacteria are present in the<unk>  at the time the sample is obtained, the bacteria will multiply and can thereby be detected. Any bacteria that incidentally find their way to the culture medium will also multiply. For example, if the skin is not adequately cleaned before needle puncture, contamination of the blood sample with normal bacteria that live on the surface of the skin can occur. For this reason, blood cultures must be drawn with great attention to sterile process. The presence of certain bacteria in the blood culture, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli almost never represent a contamination of the sample. On the other hand, contamination may be more highly suspected if organisms like Staphylococcus epidermidis or Cutibacterium acnes grow in the blood culture. Two blood cultures drawn from separate sites of the body are often sufficient to diagnose bacteremia. Two out of two cultures growing the same type of bacteria usually represents a real bacteremia, particularly if the organism that grows is not a common contaminant. One out of two positive cultures will usually prompt a repeat set of blood cultures to be drawn to confirm whether a contaminant or a real bacteremia is present. The patient's skin is typically cleaned with an alcohol-based product prior to drawing blood to prevent contamination. Blood cultures may be repeated at intervals to determine if persistent — rather than transient — bacteremia is present. Prior to drawing blood cultures, a thorough patient history should be taken with particular regard to presence of both fevers and chills, other focal signs of<unk> such as in the skin or soft tissue, a state of immunosuppression, or any recent invasive procedures. Ultrasound of the heart is recommended in all those with bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus to rule out<unk>  endocarditis. Definition Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the<unk>  that are alive and capable of reproducing. It is a type of<unk>  Bacteremia is defined as either a primary or secondary process. In primary bacteremia, bacteria have been directly introduced into the<unk> . Injection drug use may lead to primary bacteremia. In the hospital setting, use of blood vessel catheters contaminated with bacteria may also lead to primary bacteremia. Secondary bacteremia occurs when bacteria have entered the body at another site, such as the cuts in the skin, or the mucous membranes of the lungs (respiratory tract), mouth or intestines (gastrointestinal tract), bladder (urinary tract), or genitals. Bacteria that have infected the body at these sites may then spread into the lymphatic system and gain access to the<unk> , where further spread can occur. Bacteremia may also be defined by the timing of bacteria presence in the<unk> : transient, intermittent, or persistent. In transient bacteremia, bacteria are present in the<unk>  for minutes to a few hours before being cleared from the body, and the result is typically harmless in healthy people. This can occur after manipulation of parts of the body normally colonized by bacteria, such as the mucosal surfaces of the mouth during tooth brushing, flossing, or dental procedures, or instrumentation of the bladder or colon. Intermittent bacteremia is characterized by periodic seeding of the same bacteria into the<unk>  by an existing<unk> elsewhere in the body, such as an abscess, pneumonia, or bone<unk>  followed by clearing of that bacteria from the<unk> . This cycle will often repeat until the existing<unk> is successfully treated. Persistent bacteremia is characterized by the continuous presence of bacteria in the<unk> . It is usually the result of an infected heart valve, a central line-associated<unk> (CLABSI), an infected blood clot (suppurative thrombophlebitis), or an infected blood vessel graft. Persistent bacteremia can also occur as part of the<unk> process of typhoid fever, brucellosis, and bacterial meningitis. Left untreated, conditions causing persistent bacteremia can be potentially fatal. Bacteremia is clinically distinct from sepsis, which is a condition where the<unk> <unk> is associated with an inflammatory response from the body, often causing abnormalities in body temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and white blood cell count.
Bloodstream infections
Mouth infection
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Skin infection
Internal bleeding
Gastrointestinal pathology
Haemobilia