Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

bacteremia
The presence of live bacteria in the
bloodstream. Also known as bacillemia. See also
blood culture; septicemia.
bacteria
Single-celled microorganisms that can
exist either as independent (free-living) organisms
or as parasites (dependent on another organism for
life). The plural of bacterium. Examples of bacteria
include Acidophilus, a normal inhabitant of yogurt;
Gonococcus which causes gonorrhea; Clostridium
welchii, the most common cause of gangrene; E.
coli, which lives in the colon and can cause disease
elsewhere; and Streptococcus, the bacterium that
causes the common throat infection called strep
throat.
bacteria, flesh-eating
See 
necrotizing fasci-
itis.
bacterial
Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a
bacterial lung infection.
bacterial vaginosis
A vaginal condition charac-
terized by an abnormal vaginal discharge due to an
overgrowth of normal bacteria in the vagina.
Women with bacterial vaginosis also have fewer
than the usual population of vaginal bacteria, called
lactobacilli. Symptoms of bacterial vaginosis are
vaginal discharge and sometimes a fishy odor. A
microscopic sign of bacterial vaginosis is an
unusual vaginal cell called a clue cell. Treatment
options include oral antibiotics and vaginal gels.
Bacterial vaginosis can cause premature labor and
delivery, as well as infection of the amniotic fluid
and of the uterus after delivery. Therefore, screen-
ing and treatment for bacterial vaginosis during
pregnancy may be done.
bacteriocidal
Capable of killing bacteria.
Antibiotics, antiseptics, and disinfectants can all be
bacteriocidal.
bacteriophage
A virus that lives within a bac-
terium, replicating itself and eventually destroying
the bacterial cell. Bacteriophages have been very
helpful in the study of bacterial and molecular
genetics. They are sometimes simply called phages.
Bb
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