Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria in the blood.
Bacteremia may be transient, intermittent, or continuous. Transient bacteremia occurs after such minor events as brushing or cleaning the teeth, defecation, or surgical manipulation of infected wounds. Intermittent bacteremia Most often associated with an undrained abscess . The cardinal feature of acute endocarditis and sepsis associated with indwelling intravenous or arterial catheters.