Bacteremia – Definition
Bacteremia (from bacteria + Latin suffix -emia = blood related) is the presence of the bacteria in the bloodstream (1).
Bacteremia is not the same as septicemia (sepsis), which is bacteremia accompanied with an inflammation in the blood.
Both Gram-positive bacteria, like staphylococci or streptococci, or Gram-negative bacteria, like Bacteroides, may be involved in bacteremia.
