'bacteriaemia' originates from Modern Latin, specifically the word 'bacteriemia', where 'bacterium' (from Greek 'bakterion') meant 'small staff' (a rod-shaped microorganism) and the suffix '-aemia' (from Greek 'haima') meant 'blood'.

'bacteriaemia' changed from the medical Latin word 'bacteriemia' and eventually became the modern English word 'bacteriaemia', with alternative spellings such as 'bacteremia' and 'bacteraemia' emerging in late 19th to early 20th century medical usage.

Initially, it meant 'a condition involving bacteria in the blood' (literally 'bacteria + blood'), and over time it has retained this specific clinical meaning referring to bacteria present in the bloodstream.