[Comment] Patterns of bacteraemia aetiology

Bloodstream infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both high-income and lower-income countries, but the causative organisms and risk factors differ. Human beings coexist with diverse bacterial flora on their skin and their nasal, pharyngeal, and gastrointestinal mucosae. Physical barriers and non-specific immune defences keep these bacteria in check. However, various primary pathogens can invade via the respiratory mucosa (eg, some Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes) or gastrointestinal (Salmonella Typhi) mucosa or integument (Staphylococcus aureus), then enter the bloodstream and provoke clinical syndromes such as sepsis, febrile bacteraemia, meningitis, or enteric fever.
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Comment Source Type: research