Chapter 67: Bloodstream Infections Flashcards

Flashcards covering the terminology, causes, classifications, and diagnostic methods for bloodstream infections as detailed in Chapter 67.

Bacteremia

The presence of bacteria in the blood.

Fungemia

The presence of fungi in the blood.

Septicemia

A condition where organisms are present in the blood, producing an infection and reproducing in the bloodstream.

Viremia

The presence of virus in the blood.

Parasitemia

The presence of a parasite in the blood.

Toxemia

The presence of circulating toxins in the blood.

Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS)

A clinical syndrome characterized by hypoperfusion and hypofunction.

Severe Sepsis

Sepsis associated with new organ dysfunction.

Septic Shock

Sepsis characterized by hypotension.

HAIs

Health care–associated infections.

DAIs

Device-associated infections.

CLA-BSIs

Central line–associated bloodstream infections.

CA-BSIs

Community-acquired bloodstream infections.

Transient Bacteremia

Organisms that are introduced into the bloodstream as a result of the manipulation of infected tissue or surgery involving nonsterile sites; these are typically cleared by the immune system.

Continuous Bacteremia

A type of infection where organisms are released into the bloodstream at a constant rate.

Intermittent Bacteremia

Bacteria found intermittently in the bloodstream, often occurring early in patients with conditions like meningitis, pneumonia, or osteomyelitis.

Intravascular Infections

Infections that originate in the cardiovascular system, including infective endocarditis, mycotic aneurysm, and suppurative thrombophlebitis.

Extravascular Infections

Infections that enter circulation through the lymphatic system from portals of entry such as the genitourinary tract, respiratory tract, or surgical wounds.

Vegetation

A web of cells, fibrin, and organisms that attaches to a damaged endothelial surface in cases of infective endocarditis.

HACEK

An acronym for a group of organisms associated with infective endocarditis: Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae.

Mycotic Aneurysm

An infection that causes inflammatory damage and weakens the arterial wall, leading to bulging and potential rupture.

Suppurative Thrombophlebitis

An inflammation of a vein wall involving an alteration in the endothelial lining followed by clot formation, frequently associated with IV catheters.

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC)

A condition where numerous small blood vessels become clogged with clots, resulting in bleeding due to the depletion of coagulation factors.

Sodium Polyanethol Sulfonate (SPS)

The suggested anticoagulant for blood culture media as it does not inhibit organism growth, unlike EDTA or sodium citrate.

Biphasic System

A self-contained subculture system consisting of a blood culture bottle with an attached chamber containing a slide coated with agar.

Lysis Centrifugation

A technique where a specimen is treated with a lysing agent and anticoagulant then centrifuged to concentrate organisms in the sediment for plating.

BACTEC

An automated blood culture system that measures the production of $CO_2$ by metabolizing organisms and includes an incubator, shaker, and detector.

BacT/ALERT

A microbial detection system that measures $CO_2$-derived pH changes using a sensor in the bottom of each bottle.

Versa Trek

A continuous monitoring system for blood cultures that uses a stir-bar to increase oxygenation.

Blood Culture Contaminant

Indicated by growth of organisms like Bacillus spp., Corynebacterium spp., or Cutibacterium acnes, especially when clinical presentation is inconsistent with sepsis.

Blood Culture Pathogen

Indicated by the growth of the same organism in repeated cultures or the isolation of known pathogens like Group A streptococci (GAS).