occult bacteremia
Bacterial bloodstream infection in febrile children without obvious clinical focus of infection.
Full Definition
The presence of pathogenic bacteria in the bloodstream of febrile children who appear well and lack localizing signs of serious bacterial infection. Occult bacteremia was historically more common before widespread pneumococcal vaccination, primarily caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The condition poses diagnostic challenges as affected children may appear clinically stable despite having positive blood cultures. Current pediatric practice emphasizes risk stratification and selective testing rather than routine blood culture screening, making accurate terminology crucial for medical documentation.
Usage
Usage note: Always use 'occult' rather than 'hidden' or 'silent' to maintain consistency with established medical terminology.
In Context
- "The incidence of occult bacteremia has decreased significantly since the introduction of conjugate vaccines." — Pediatric emergency medicine review
- "Risk factors for occult bacteremia include age under 24 months and fever greater than 39°C without localizing signs." — Clinical practice guideline