ABSTRACT
The most common causes of clinically significant bacteremia in nonhospitalized patients are Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, other Enterobacteriaceae, Streptococcus species including Streptococcus pneumoniae, and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. The most common sources for these bacteremias are respiratory and genitourinary tract infections, intraabdominal foci, and intravascular catheters. The etiology of the bacteremia may not be identified in as many as 25% of patients. Bacteremias with certain pathogens may indicate the need to assess the patient for underlying malignancies. Bacteremias with Streptococcus bovis, Clostridium septicum, and to a lesser extent Clostridium perfringens have all been associated with gastrointestinal malignancies.
