Bacteraemia
Bacteraemia means the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. While this is abnormal, it may or may not cause us problems. Every time we break the surface of the skin we introduce bacteria from the skin into the bloodstream, where they usually cause no problems because they are not pathogenic. This happens commonly as a consequence of dental procedures, because it is impossible adequately to sterilise the mouth. In patients with heart defects bacteria in the bloodstream can stick on the abnormal parts of the heart, causing a condition called endocarditis (described in the section on the heart). Many bacterial infections cause bacteraemia, producing generalised symptoms of fever, headache and muscular aches and pains. Under most circumstances the body's immune system will eradicate the bacteria, but if the bacterium is particularly virulent and causes tissue destruction, then it may develop into septicaemia, described in this section.
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