Overview
Bacteremia is the presence of viable bacteria in the bloodstream. In the WikiBiome framework, bacteremia results from bacterial translocation across compromised barriers — the gut epithelium (→ portal bacteremia) or the oral mucosa (→ systemic bacteremia during dental procedures or periodontitis). It is distinct from endotoxemia (LPS translocation) in that viable organisms, not just their products, enter the blood.
Key Pathways
- Gut translocation: Barrier failure from dysbiosis, metal damage (cadmium, lead), or inflammation allows gut bacteria to enter the portal circulation → liver → systemic spread liu 2023 environmental cadmium rat microbiota metabolome.
- COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2-induced gut dysbiosis and barrier disruption leads to bacterial translocation and bacteremia, contributing to cytokine storm severity bernard raichon2022 dysbiosis translocation bacteremia covid.
- Oral translocation: Chewing, dental procedures, or severe periodontitis cause transient bacteremia from oral pathogens (porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus) into the systemic circulation → cardiovascular disease risk tonelli 2023 oral microbiome cvd pathophysiology.
- Perioperative: Post-surgical bacteremia from gut translocation; synbiotics may reduce incidence maher 2024 synbiotics immunomodulation pdac resection.
Cross-References
- endotoxemia — LPS translocation (without viable bacteria)
- intestinal permeability — barrier failure enabling translocation
- porphyromonas gingivalis — oral-to-systemic translocation
- systemic inflammation — downstream consequence