Defining microbial invasion of the bloodstream: a structured review

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Microbiology
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Microbial invasion of the bloodstream represents a significant global health burden.
• Inconsistent terminology complicates accurate tracking and research.
• Existing terms lack standardized definitions, hindering comparability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the contemporary usage of terms defining microbial invasion of the bloodstream.
• To assess the consistency and clarity of definitions in research and surveillance literature.
• To identify needs for standardized terminology in the field.

Main Methods:

• A structured review of scientific publications from 2000 to 2019.
• Analysis of citation counts for terms like bloodstream infection, bacteraemia, and fungaemia.
• Detailed review of 100 selected reports for definition inclusion and criteria.

Main Results:

• Annual citations for these terms tripled over the study period.
• Bloodstream infection (BSI) usage increased, though bacteraemia remained frequent.
• Explicit definitions were often lacking, especially for excluding contaminants or confirming clinical significance.

Conclusions:

• Current terminology for microbial bloodstream invasion is inconsistently defined and imprecisely applied.
• There is a critical need for widely acceptable, objective, and clinically relevant definitions.
• Standardized definitions are essential for improving future surveillance and research efforts.