Bacteraemia Vs Septacaemia

Bacteraemia: the presence of micro-organisms in blood

Septacaemia: the active multiplication of micro-organisms in blood – implies a systemic infection

Bacteraemia

Bacteraemia is part of every day life, everyday there are micro-organisms entering the blood. For example: a transient bacteraemia is caused when you eat, and the normal flora in your mouth gets dislodged and enters the blood stream. It is then systematically mopped up by the immune system. Any manipulation of mucous membrane can disturb the organisms on it, and therefore enter the blood.

Primary cause:

• Eating, dental extraction, brushing teeth, periodontal surgery

Other causes:

• Upper airway problems, GI, urologic, obstetric/gynaecology (not normal vaginal delivery)

How do you diagnose organisms in blood?

Blood culture, the larger vol of blood the better so more chance of finding the organism.

Septacaemia – active systemic infection

You can divide into two categories: 1) Gram –ve, 2) Gram +ve

Gram –ve Septacaemia – some properties

• Complex gram –ve cell wall, pink under gram stain

• Have inner cytoplasmic membrane (made up of no. of layers – includes proteins that cause septicaemia)

• Cell wall itself is the endotoxin, exotoxin: produced by cell and released into surrounding medium.

Category: Microbiology Notes