Microbiology Tech Info

  Blood Culture Overview Blood culture is a laboratory test used to determine if microorganisms have invaded the bloodstream, this condition is known as bacteremia. An infection can spread to the bloodstream and become a systemic infection known as septicemia. The clinical syndrome is characterized by fever, chills, malaise, and tachycardia.     Bacteremia may be transient, intermittent, or continuous, reflecting several mechanisms by which bacteria enter the bloodstream. Transient bacteremia  occurs when organisms, often members of the normal community of microorganisms are introduced into the blood by minimal trauma to membranes. Intermittent bacteremia  occurs when bacteria from an infected site are periodically released into the blood from an extravascular abscess, spreading infections of body cavities like empyema, peritonitis, or septic arthritis. Continuous bacteremia  occurs when the infection is intravascular (Infective endocar...