[Prospective study of routine screening for cirrhosis and colonic tumors associated with Streptococcus bovis...

Between 1987 and 1990, seven patients hospitalized in our hospital had bacteremia caused by Streptococcus bovis. Complete gastrointestinal evaluation was routinely carried out for digestive portal of entry and liver disease screening. In four cases (2 bacteremia, 2 endocarditis), a colonic growth was detected: sigmoid adenoma (n = 1) and rectosigmoid carcinoma (n = 4); in one case (endocarditis), several rectosigmoid carcinomas were associated with alcoholic cirrhosis; in one case (bacteremia), alcoholic cirrhosis was diagnosed; in one case (endocarditis), no gastrointestinal or hepatic portal of entry was found. These cases emphasize the need for simultaneous detection of endocarditis and gastrointestinal portal of entry such as colonic tumor and/or cirrhosis, in case of Streptococcus bovis bacteremia.