Bacteremia is a medical condition caused by the accumulation of bacteria in the bloodstream. Normally, blood vessels contain blood cells and immune cells that function to destroy foreign substances that enter the body. In bacteremia, the bacterial infection has spread to the bloodstream and causes a number of symptoms.
Symptoms of Bacteremia
In some cases of bacteremia, the condition is asymptomatic. This is because the immune system is able to clear the bacteria without the body realizing it. However, when bacteremia causes an infection, the symptoms that arise can include:
- Sudden fever;
- Changes in consciousness, fainting, or confusion;
- Decrease in blood pressure to below 100 mm/Hg;
- The breathing rate increases and becomes labored.
Causes of Bacteremia
Infection that enters the bloodstream is the cause of bacteremia. Some conditions that can cause bacteremia include:
- Pneumonia, which is inflammation of the lungs caused by a bacterial infection;
- Infections of the digestive organs (such as appendicitis, or other infections in the large intestine);
- Long-lasting urinary tract infection.
In addition to medical conditions, bacteremia is also often caused by the use of non-sterile medical equipment or invasive medical procedures that do not pay attention to hygiene aspects.
Risk Factors for Bacteremia
There are a number of factors that increase the risk of bacteremia. These risk factors can include age, illness and medical procedures. Here are some factors that increase the risk of bacteremia:
- Very young or very old. At a very young age, the immune system does not work optimally because it is not yet fully developed. While in the elderly, the immune system has experienced aging and decreased function.
- Having a disease that weakens the immune system such as HIV or AIDS.
- Diabetes which causes high blood sugar levels.
- Excessive length of hospital stay, so that the patient experiences nosocomial infections from the hospital, especially for ventilator users in the ICU.
- Risky invasive medical procedures, such as inserting IV lines, catheters, or stitching wounds without paying attention to hygiene aspects.
Diagnosis of Bacteremia
Doctors usually perform blood tests to confirm whether someone has bacteremia. In addition to blood tests, there are also other supporting tests that may be needed. Some types of tests that can be performed by doctors are:
- Blood culture, to see whether or not there are bacteria and the types of bacteria in the blood.
- Blood clotting test, to determine whether there is a blood clotting disorder.
- Liver and kidney function tests, to look for liver and kidney failure that can contribute to bacteremia.
- Blood gas analysis looks at the oxygen levels in the blood.
- Electrolyte balance.
- Urine and stool tests, if an infection of the urinary tract or digestive tract is suspected.
Complications of Bacteremia
Bacteremia is a medical condition that needs to be treated immediately. This is because infections that are left untreated can lead to life-threatening complications such as sepsis and septic shock. Sepsis occurs when the immune response to infection is too strong. This response can trigger changes in the body such as inflammation. Well, these changes can be dangerous and can cause organ damage. Meanwhile, blood pressure drops drastically and risks causing organ failure when septic shock occurs.
Prevention of Bacteremia
In addition to preventing infections in the blood vessels, the following are ways to prevent bacteremia that can be done:
- Maintain general cleanliness;
- Ensuring the hygiene of medical equipment used for medical procedures;
- In groups of people who frequently receive medical treatment, always maintain cleanliness around the area where the medical treatment is performed.
Treatment of Bacteremia
Several treatments can be performed to treat bacteremia, namely:
- Use of antibiotics, to eliminate bacteria circulating in the blood vessels;
- Oxygen therapy, for patients who experience shortness of breath;
- Parenteral fluids, such as IV fluids, to replace lost body fluids.
- Vasopressors, which are drugs used to narrow blood vessels, so that blood flow becomes faster and blood pressure increases.
When to See a Doctor?
Unsterile medical procedures such as suturing wounds or tooth extractions, or other infections that spread to the bloodstream, are often the main causes of bacteremia. If you experience fever and chills after receiving medical treatment, do not delay seeking medical help.