Blood poisoning is a confusing term because there's no poison involved, according to MayoClinic.com. Instead, it means there are bacteria in the blood, a condition formally known as bacteremia or septicemia. Symptoms include a sudden fever, chills, increased heart rate, nausea, and vomiting or stomach pain. Bacteremia is a serious infection that requires emergency medical care and antibiotics. Left untreated, bacteremia can trigger a systemic reaction called sepsis that can be deadly.
Medical Procedures
Medical or dental procedures can cause bacteremia, according to the Merck Manual of Medical Information. Dental procedures can dislodge bacteria on the gums, allowing it to enter the bloodstream. Inserting a catheter into the bladder or digestive tract can push bacteria accumulating on internal organs into the blood. Surgery performed on an infected area can also move bacteria into the blood.
Infections
Some common infections, like pneumonia and skin abscesses, can shed bacteria into the blood stream, causing bacteremia, according to Merck. This is particularly common in children. Infections in the lung, abdomen and urinary tract infections can also sometimes lead to bacteremia, according to MedlinePlus, a publication of the National Institutes of Health.
Drug Use
Recreational drug use can lead to bacteremia if dirty needles are used, according to Merck. The needles used to inject drugs can be contaminated with bacteria and the drug user can inject them directly into the blood.
Other Risk Factors
Having an artificial joint or heart valve, or an abnormality in a heart valve, can lead to bacteremia, according to Merck. Bacteria tend to collect on such artificial materials in the body and sometimes these bacteria are shed into the bloodstream, causing infection. People with these conditions can prevent bacteremia by taking antibiotics before any medical or dental procedures. Many ordinary activities like vigorous tooth brushing or digestion can cause bacteria to leak into the blood. In healthy people this is not a problem as the immune system cleans up the bacteria quickly. But in those with suppressed immune systems, such as patients with cancer or AIDS, this can occasionally lead to a serious case of bacteremia.
