Bloodstream infections include infective endocarditis, central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infections, primary bacteremia, and those with secondary bacteremia due to focal infections including abscesses, osteomyelitis, urinary tract infections, or pneumonia (Fig. 2.1).
The most common type of blood infection is known as sepsis, “a serious complication of septicemia. Sepsis is when inflammation throughout the body occurs. This inflammation can cause blood clots and block oxygen from reaching vital organs, resulting in organ failure.
Bacterial infections are one of the most common causes of sepsis. Fungal, parasitic and viral infections are also potential sepsis causes. You can get sepsis when an infection triggers a chain reaction throughout your body causing organ dysfunction.
Sepsis is when your body has an unusually severe response to an infection. It's sometimes called septicemia. During sepsis, your immune system, which defends you from germs, releases a lot of chemicals into your blood. This triggers widespread inflammation that can lead to organ damage.
Septicemia is an infection that occurs when germs get into the bloodstream and spread. It's a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention and antibiotic treatment.
When to see a doctor. Any infection could lead to sepsis. Go to a health care provider if you have symptoms of sepsis or an infection or wound that isn't getting better. Symptoms such as confusion or fast breathing need emergency care.
Most people make a full recovery from sepsis. But it can take time. You might continue to have physical and emotional symptoms. These can last for months, or even years, after you had sepsis.
Healthcare professionals should treat sepsis with antibiotics as soon as possible. Antibiotics are critical tools for treating life-threatening infections, like those that can lead to sepsis.
Sepsis is the body's extreme response to an infection. It is a life-threatening medical emergency. Sepsis happens when an infection you already have triggers a chain reaction throughout your body. Infections that lead to sepsis most often start in the lung, urinary tract, skin, or gastrointestinal tract.
"Big Three" Infectious Diseases: Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS.
Sepsis can be divided into three stages: sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock.
Sepsis can develop quickly from initial infection and progress to septic shock in as little as 12 to 24 hours.1 You may have an infection that's not improving or you could even be sick without realizing it.
If the infection has spread or you have a generalized infection, you may develop other signs and symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, pain, etc. Sometimes however, you may have an infection and not know it, and not have any symptoms.
Sepsis can overwhelm the body. This can cause vital organs to shut down. This usually starts with the kidneys. Blood pressure can drop dangerously low.
Stage one: Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)
Sepsis can be hard to identify, but is typically denoted by a very high or low body temperature, high heart rate, high respiratory rate, high or low white blood cell count and a known or suspected infection.
The most common misconception is that sepsis is an infection. It isn't. Sepsis is the body's response to an infection. In other words, you have to have an infection somewhere in your body for sepsis to occur.
While bloodstream infections, like any other infection, can ultimately lead to a dysregulated immune response, sepsis is not the inevitable result of a bloodstream infection. In many cases, the pathogen is controlled before a dysregulated host response and organ dysfunction develop, and sepsis never occurs.
On average, the recovery period from this condition takes about three to ten days, depending on the appropriate treatment response, including medication.
Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:
a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis. difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast.
The following are signs you have a serious infection: Severe headache. Constant vomiting. Bloodstained vomit, stool, or urine.
Signs and symptoms of an infection
a change in your temperature – 37.5°C or higher or below 36°C. feeling generally unwell – not able to get out of bed. flu-like symptoms – feeling cold and shivery, headaches, and aching muscles. coughing up green phlegm.