Which term refers to infection in the bloodstream?

Which term refers to infection in the bloodstream?

• A. Sepsis
• B. Septicemia
• C. Bacteremia
• D. Toxemia

Answer: (B)

Infections in the bloodstream are described by septicemia. It means infectious organisms are present in the blood and causing systemic illness. This differs from bacteremia, which simply means bacteria are in the blood but may not cause illness on its own; sepsis is the body's severe systemic response to infection and can follow septicemia, while toxemia refers to toxins circulating in the blood rather than the organisms themselves. So septicemia best captures the idea of an infection actively present in the bloodstream.

Infections in the bloodstream are described by septicemia. It means infectious organisms are present in the blood and causing systemic illness. This differs from bacteremia, which simply means bacteria are in the blood but may not cause illness on its own; sepsis is the body's severe systemic response to infection and can follow septicemia, while toxemia refers to toxins circulating in the blood rather than the organisms themselves. So septicemia best captures the idea of an infection actively present in the bloodstream.