Blood poisoning - Definition and Overview

Blood poisoning, also known as septicaemia, is a bacterial infection that occurs when bacteria get into the bloodstream and multiply rapidly. Blood poisoning normally happens when bacteria enter the bloodstream in large numbers, and spread too quickly for the immune system to destroy them. Once in the bloodstream, some types of bacteria release poisons known as toxins that attack the body’s tissues. Blood poisoning is a potentially life-threatening infection that must be treated rapidly in order to prevent the infection from spreading to the heart and lungs, thus causing septic shock.

Blood poisoning can be caused by an external wound that has not been treated properly, or from internal trauma. Before antibiotics were discovered, blood poisoning frequently occurred in birthing women. Today, it occurs much less frequently, but due to the risk of infection with resistant bacteria, it may sometimes also occur after surgery. The first symptoms of blood poisoning are intense shivering, fever, a general feeling of sickness and ache throughout the whole body. When not treated properly severe blood poisoing can cause death within 24 hours.

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