NU 530 Quiz 2 Study Guide Chapter 8 Endotoxins are released when the bacteria die/ the are produced by gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxins released by blood-borne bacteria cause the release of vasoactive enzymes that increase the permeability of blood vessels. Bacteria injure cells by producing exotoxins or endotoxins. Exotoxins are enzymes that can damage the plasma membranes of host cells or can inactivate enzymes critical to protein synthesis, and endotoxins activate the inflammatory response and produce fever. Gram-negative microbes produce an endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) that is a structural portion of the cell wall and is released during growth, lysis, or destruction of the bacteria or during treatment with antibiotics. Therefore, antibiotics cannot prevent the toxic effects of endotoxin. Bacteria that produce endotoxins are called pyrogenic bacteria because they activate the inflammatory process and produce fever.Septicemia is the proliferation of bacteria in the blood. Endotoxins released by blood-borne bacteria cause the release of vasoactive enzymes that increase the permeability ofblood vessels. Leakage from vessels causes hypotension that can result in septic shock.Bacteremia occurs when bacteria are present in the blood. Gram-negative sepsis (sepsis or septicemia) occurs when bacteria are growing in the blood and release large amounts of endotoxin, when can cause