Bacteremia, sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock are related:
Bacteremia: Bacteria are present in the bloodstream. Bacteremia can result from a serious infection or from something as harmless as vigorous toothbrushing. Most often, only a small number of bacteria are present, and they are removed by the immune system. In such cases, most people have no symptoms. However, occasionally, bacteremia leads to serious infection, sepsis, or both.
Sepsis: Bacteremia or infection of a particular organ system (such as urinary tract infection or pneumonia) triggers a serious bodywide response (sepsis), which typically includes fever, weakness, a rapid heart rate, a rapid breathing rate, and an increased number of white blood cells. The response also affects many internal organs, such as the kidneys, heart, and lungs, which begin to malfunction.
Septic shock: Sepsis that causes dangerously low blood pressure (shock) is called septic shock. As a result, internal organs typically receive too little blood, causing them to malfunction. Septic shock is life threatening.
