Blood poisoning: The medical term is "septicemia." No matter which of these two terms-blood poisoning or septicemia-you prefer, what is meant is the same thing, namely a "general (systemic) disease that is due to the presence and the persistence of germs (pathogenic microorganisms) or their toxins in the bloodstream." The "germs" can be bacteria (in bacteremia) or any other microscopic agent of infection capable of causing disease in humans. Another term that is very closely related to "blood poisoning" and "septicemia" is "sepsis." "Sepsis" also refers to the presence and persistence of germs or their toxins in the blood but those germs or toxins do not need to be in the blood. They may be in other tissues of the body. Blood poisoning/septicemia and sepsis are often serious. They can sometimes be life threatening diseases calling for urgent and comprehensive care.
Dr. James Steckelberg is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at Mayo Medical School. A native of Fremont, Neb., Dr ...
Library > Literature & Language > Dictionary n. See septicemia . See toxemia
Blood poisoning symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment information for Blood poisoning (Septicemia) with alternative diagnoses, full-text book chapters ...
Sepsis (blood poisoning) can be a deadly infection. Get the facts on the causes, symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of sepsis.
Blood poisoning, also known as septicemia or sepsis, occurs when the bloodstream becomes infected by bacteria (i.e.