Boil A boil is a painful, pus-filled bump under your skin â the result of a bacterial infection of one or more hair follicles. Carbuncle. Carbuncle A carbuncle is a cluster of boils â painful, pus-filled bumps â that form a connected area of infection under the skin.
Blood cultures are used to detect the presence of bacteria or fungi in the blood, to identify the type present, and to guide treatment. Testing is used to identify a blood infection (septicemia) that can lead to sepsis, a serious and life-threatening complication.
Bacteremia, sepsis, and septic shock. Bacteremia is the presence of bacteria within the bloodstream, but this condition does not always lead to SIRS or sepsis. Sepsis is the systemic response to infection and is defined as the presence of SIRS in addition to a documented or presumed infection. Severe sepsis meets the aforementioned criteria and is associated with organ dysfunction, hypoperfusion, or hypotension. (See Etiology, Treatment, and Medication.)