Septicemia 

Septicemia is a serious bloodstream infection. It’s also known as bacteremia, or blood poisoning. Septicemia occurs when a bacterial infection elsewhere in the body, such as in the lungs or skin, enters the bloodstream. This is dangerous because the bacteria and their toxins can be carried through the bloodstream to your entire body.

Septicemia can quickly become life-threatening. It must be treated in a hospital. If it’s left untreated, septicemia can progress to sepsis.

Septicemia and sepsis aren’t the same. Sepsis is 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. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that over 1 million Americans get severe sepsis each year. Between 28 and 50 percent of these patients may die from the condition. When the inflammation occurs with extremely low blood pressure, it’s called septic shock. Septic shock is fatal in many cases.

 

What causes septicemia?

 

Septicemia is caused by an infection in another part of your body. This infection is typically severe. Many types of bacteria can lead to septicemia. The exact source of the infection often can’t be determined. The most common infections that lead to septicemia are:

• urinary tract infections
• lung infections, such as pneumonia
• kidney infections
• infections in the abdominal area

Bacteria from these infections enter the bloodstream and multiply rapidly, causing immediate symptoms.
People who are already in the hospital for something else, such as a surgery, are at a higher risk of developing septicemia. Secondary infections can occur while in the hospital. These infections are often more dangerous because the bacteria may already be resistant to antibiotics. You’re also at a higher risk of developing septicemia if you:

• have severe wounds or burns
• are very young or very old
• have a compromised immune system, which can occur from diseases such as HIV or leukemia
• have a urinary or intravenous catheter
• are on mechanical ventilation
• are receiving medical treatments that weaken your immune system, such as chemotherapy or steroid injections

 

 

What are the symptoms of septicemia?

The symptoms of septicemia usually start very quickly. Even in the first stages of the illness, a person can look very sick. They may follow an injury, surgery, or another localized (confined to one location) infection, like pneumonia. The most common initial symptoms are:

• chills
• elevated body temperature (fever)
• very fast respiration
• rapid heart rate

More severe symptoms will begin to emerge as the septicemia progresses without proper treatment. These include the following:

• confusion or inability to think clearly
• nausea and vomiting
• red dots that appear on the skin
• reduced urine volume
• inadequate blood flow (shock)

It’s crucial to get to the hospital right away if you or someone else is showing signs of septicemia. Never take a “wait and see” approach or try to treat the problem at home.

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