What condition is commonly referred to as "blood poisoning"?

The condition commonly referred to as "blood poisoning" is septicemia. Septicemia occurs when there is a severe systemic response to infection, specifically when bacteria enter the bloodstream and multiply, leading to a widespread inflammatory response. This can result in significant symptoms and is often associated with sepsis, which is the body's extreme response to an infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and possibly death.

While sepsis is a broader term that describes the body's systemic reaction to infection, septicemia specifically refers to the presence and proliferation of bacteria in the bloodstream. Understanding this distinction is essential as it allows healthcare professionals to respond appropriately to the severity of the condition.

In contrast, bacteremia refers to the presence of bacteria in the blood but doesn't always lead to the severe systemic effects seen in septicemia. The term infection is a general concept that encompasses any pathogen-caused disease, without specifying the implications for systemic bacteria or the bloodstream. Therefore, septicemia is the most accurate definition for what is commonly termed “blood poisoning.”