In simple words: Bacteremia means there are bacteria in your blood. You might have a fever, chills, a fast heart rate, and fast breathing. However, some people don't experience any symptoms. This condition is often seen in people who are already in the hospital and have other health issues or have had medical procedures.

Bacteremia is the presence of viable bacteria circulating in the blood.Common symptoms can include fever, chills, rapid heart rate (tachycardia), and rapid breathing (tachypnea), however some individuals may be asymptomatic.It is frequently observed in hospitalized patients with underlying diseases or procedures that increase susceptibility to bloodstream infections.

Example 1: A hospitalized patient with a urinary tract infection develops a fever and chills. Blood cultures reveal the presence of E. coli, confirming bacteremia. The patient is treated with appropriate antibiotics., An individual with a compromised immune system undergoes a dental procedure. Several days later, they experience fatigue and malaise. Blood cultures identify the presence of Streptococcus, indicating bacteremia., An asymptomatic patient with a central venous catheter has routine blood work done.The blood cultures return positive for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Further investigation reveals no clear source of infection, suggesting transient bacteremia.

Documentation should clearly state "bacteremia" along with the results of blood cultures identifying the specific bacteria present. If symptoms are present, these should also be documented. If there's a suspected source of infection (like a UTI), it should be noted as well.

** It's crucial to distinguish between bacteremia and sepsis.Bacteremia indicates the mere presence of bacteria in the blood, while sepsis implies a more severe systemic response to infection with organ dysfunction.The term "septicemia" is no longer used in ICD-10-CM, and cases previously described as septicemia should now be coded as sepsis.