bacteremia /bak′tirē″mē·ə/ [Gk, bakterion, small staff, haima, blood] , the presence of bacteria in the blood. Undocumented bacteremias occur frequently and usually abate spontaneously. Bacteremia is demonstrated by blood culture. Antibiotic treatment, if given, is specific for the organism found and appropriate to the locus of infection. If untreated, bacteremia can be fatal. Compare septicemia. See also septic shock. −bacteremic, adj.
