A member asked:

What's the difference between septicemia and sepsis?

9 doctors weighed in across 4 answers

Same thing mostly: Septicemia as a term generally implies that there has been confirmed to be the presence of bacteria or other micobial agents present in the blood. Sepsis is generally a syndrome of severe vascular compromise. However, generally speaking the two terms are used interchangably.

Answered 7/2/2018

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Interchangeable: Sepsis is a systemic response to an infection. This infection could be anywhere. If the infection is in the blood and the blood culture grew an organism then it is called septicemia.

Answered 6/9/2013

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Same: Basically sepsis means the presence of an infection causing an immune response. Septicemia means the presence of bacteria in the blood stream.

Answered 7/5/2012

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Dr. Hesham Hassaballa answered

Specializes in Pulmonary Critical Care

Basically same: Sepsis is a term which means the body's reaction to an infection. There are specific criteria - like fever, high white cells, breathing fast, and a fast heart rate - that, when combined with infection, mean sepsis. Septicemia is an older term for the same thing.

Answered 9/10/2018

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