What is bacteremia?
Bacteremia is a diagnosis that means the presence of bacteria in the blood.
Bacteria enter the blood in various ways, namely from wounds, medical procedures, and you can imagine even when you brush your teeth too roughly.
After diagnosing the type of bacteria, appropriate antibiotic therapy is prescribed.
Treatment must be given immediately, otherwise bacteremia will lead to another type of infection. If left untreated, bacteremia can progress to a life-threatening condition called sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.
Blood is sterile, meaning it should not contain bacteria or other germs. Bacteremia is a serious condition and is especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, as their immune systems are less able to fight off infection.
When bacteria enter the bloodstream, the immune system recognizes the foreign invader and begins to expel it from the body, which is manifested only by a mild fever (the person does not suffer from any other serious symptoms during this process).
However, when bacteremia progresses, the following signs appear:
- Chills, fever;
- Rapid heartbeat;
- Low blood pressure;
- Abdominal pain;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Diarrhea;
- Rapid breathing.
The best way to avoid bacteria entering the bloodstream is to take care of personal hygiene, i.e. wash your hands regularly, treat any cuts on the skin, and seek medical attention in case of deep injuries.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25151-bacteremia
