Introduction

Introduction Bacteraemia defines the presence of bacteria in the blood as detected by blood culture. Septicaemia also defines the presence of bacteria in blood, but it signals a sense of urgency in the management of the patient. The terms sepsis and septic shock are also used and, with clinical parameters such as fever, hypotension, tachycardia, leukophilia, and multiorgan failure, they define the severity of the situation.