Bacteremia is a term used
A) to indicate the presence of bacteria in the blood.
B) synonymously with septicemia.
C) when the same organism is isolated from more than one site.
D) to indicate the presence of bacteria in the lungs.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bacteremia refers specifically to the presence of bacteria in the blood, regardless of their ability to cause systemic illness. Septicemia, on the other hand, refers to the presence of bacteria in the blood that are actively causing a systemic inflammatory response and are likely to cause sepsis. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the isolation of bacteria from more than one body site, which is known as polymicrobial infection, and choice D is incorrect as it refers specifically to the presence of bacteria in the lungs, which would be termed pneumonia.

Bacteremia Is a Term Used