Infection in the blood (bacteremia) is not always a threat to he alth and life - the body usually deals with bacteria in a natural way. However, in certain situations, bacteremia can lead to the development of sepsis (sepsis), which can be fatal. What are the causes and symptoms of bacteremia (blood poisoning)? When does it cause sepsis and how is it different? What is the treatment?

Bacteraemiaisblood contaminationwith bacteria that occurs without the body's general reaction to infection or the ongoing inflammatory process. Bacteraemia usually does not pose a threat to he alth and life, as the body naturally deals with microbes.

Therefore, bacteremia usually lasts a short time, resolves spontaneously, and additionally does not cause any he alth consequences. However, under certain conditions, blood poisoning can progress tosepsis , which can be fatal.

There are several types of bacteremia: transient, periodic (recurrent) and continuous. In the first case, the bacteria are present in the blood for a short time (5-15 minutes). Periodic bacteremia occurs when the body has infectious foci from which bacteria are released into the bloodstream from time to time.

This type of bacteremia lasts much longer than transient blood poisoning. In turn, continuous bacteremia can take place in the body for several hours or even days.

Bacteraemia (blood poisoning) - causes

The onset of transient bacteremia usually takes place in the nasopharyngeal mucosa, digestive tract, genitourinary system or skin - that is, places that are physiologically inhabited by bacteria.

Microbes can get into the blood, e.g. during tooth brushing, dental procedures (e.g. scaling, tooth extraction), bronchoscopy, surgery or minor injuries.

In the case of periodic bacteremia, the inflammatory foci may be, for example, abscesses, infections of the respiratory, digestive, urinary systems, joints or connective tissue.

Continuous bacteraemia is most often the result of introducing infected foreign bodies into the body, e.g. an infected venous catheter, vascular endoprosthesis or an artificial heart valve. Additionallytype of bacteremia can also occur in the case of vascular transplants, aneurysms, thrombophlebitis or endocarditis.

It can also appear in the course of diseases such as typhoid, brucellosis, listeriosis, and Lyme disease.

Bacteraemia (blood poisoning) - risk factors

Newborns with low birth weight, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system, such as those struggling with congenital immunodeficiencies, undergoing chemotherapy or after transplantation, are particularly vulnerable to bacteraemia.

Patients who have undergone major surgery or have a serious underlying disease are also at risk. The likelihood of bacteremia is also increased by extensive burns, serious injuries (which usually occur during traffic accidents), catheterization or enteral nutrition.

Important

Bacteria and sepsis

In the case of bacteremia and sepsis, bacteria are present in the blood, although sepsis can also be caused by other microorganisms, such as viruses or fungi. In the case of bacteremia, however, the body does not react violently - it usually deals with bacteria in a natural, asymptomatic way.

However, if the immune system is weakened, and the bacterium turns out to be quite virulent and breaks the barrier created by the immune system, sepsis may develop, in the course of which the body reacts systemically to the microbial blood present in the blood and their toxins.

Therefore, bacteremia is not sepsis. Bacteremia always precedes sepsis, but not always sepsis.

Bacteraemia (bloodstream infection) - symptoms

Transient bacteremia is usually asymptomatic and does not have any he alth consequences. Periodic bacteraemia may be associated with a sudden fever and chills.

In the course of persistent bacteremia, a significant amount of bacteria is introduced into the blood (along with the release of bacterial toxins), the development ofsystemic inflammatory reaction(SIRS) occurs.

Then there is a fever (but not greater than 38 degrees C), heart rate>90 / min., Number of breaths>20 / min. Coexistence of bacteremia with symptoms of SIRS is recognized as sepsis.

If bacteremia is symptomatic, fever is usually the first, but not all people have it. This is especially true for the elderly, in whom the fever may not develop or the body temperature may only slightly rise.

In this case, symptoms of blood poisoning may be disturbed consciousness or a feeling of confusion.

Bacteraemia (bloodstream infection) - diagnosis

Blood culture is performed if bacteremia is suspected. The test allows you to determine which bacteria is responsible for the infection and determine its drug sensitivity, and thus - allows you to answer the question of what antibiotic should be used.

Bacteraemia (blood poisoning) - treatment

In the case of bacteremia, the patient is given appropriate antibiotics.

Category:

Infectious diseases