(1) The presence of bacteria in the blood. Bacteremia is diagnosed by growing organisms from a blood sample and treatment is with antibiotics.

See: Infections Associated with Lymphedema

(2) The presence of live bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteremia is analogous to viremia (the presence of a virus in the blood) and parasitemia (the presence of a parasite in the blood). Bacteremia, viremia and parasitemia are all forms of sepsis (bloodstream infection). The term “bacteremia” was compounded from “bacteria” and ”-emia” (in the blood). Also called bacillemia.