ABSTRACT
Blood is a vital human body fluid that plays several important roles like circulation of oxygen to various parts of the body, cleaning of metabolic wastes from cells, regulation of body, and immunity. Blood infections caused by bacteria are a global burden because of the increase in virulent and drug-resistant strains. This chapter focuses on components of blood, blood infections caused by bacteria, bacterial species involved, and their virulence mechanisms. Blood is a specialized fluid which supplies oxygen and nutrients to cells present in various parts of the body and carry away metabolic wastes from the cells. Human blood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Blood is a nutrient-rich human body fluid and is more prone to bacterial encounters during blood transfusion, through open wounds, burn wounds, and other bacterial infections. Extensive use of medical procedures and the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens and nosocomial infections leads to an increasing incidence of bacteremia.
