Hi Guys. In essence, all of the above statements are at least partially correct. Below is the info on "septicemia" from the University of Maryland Medical Center (my alma mater) web site which may be helpful to some readers. As for me, if I see blood under the scutes or seeping out the seams in the plastron, my first thought is that the animal is "septic". The problem then becomes figuring out the actual cause of the sepsis in time to save the animal.



Definition:

Septicemia is the presence of bacteria in the blood ( bacteremia ) and is often associated with severe disease.



Alternative Names:

Blood poisoning; Bacteremia with sepsis



Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Septicemia is a serious, life-threatening infection that gets worse very quickly. It can arise from infections throughout the body, including infections in the lungs, abdomen, and urinary tract. It may come before or at the same time as infections of the bone ( osteomyelitis ), central nervous system ( meningitis ), or other tissues.



Septicemia can rapidly lead to septic shock and death. Septicemia associated with some organisms (germs) such as meningococci can lead to shock , adrenal collapse, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy , a condition called Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome .

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