Septicemia
Septicemia, condition of the blood, characterized by increasingly high levels of bacteria in the circulatory system, with resulting infection of tissues and organs. The term sepsis generally refers to the source of infection, but is sometimes also used to refer to the condition of septicemia. Bacteremia (blood poisoning), the presence of bacteria in the blood , precedes the onset of septicemia and, unlike septicemia, is not life-threatening. Bacteremia is often asymptomatic, and a problem may not be apparent until the development of septicemia. In septicemia, bacteria may enter the bloodstream from an infected area of the body or after an injury or surgical procedure. Once in the bloodstream, the bacteria begin to multiply rapidly, spreading toxins throughout the circulatory system. Septicemia is characterized by chills, fever, tachycardia (rapid heart rate), tachypnea (rapid breathing), and a high white-blood-cell count. If septicemia is left untreated, septic shock, or sepsis syndro...