An Unusual Case of Intraabdominal Abscess After a Colonoscopy With Polypectomy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Colonoscopies are vital for colorectal cancer screening, enabling early detection and treatment.
• Complications are rare (<0.5%), typically bleeding or perforation; micro-perforations are exceptionally uncommon.

Observation:

• A 66-year-old female smoker presented with altered mental status and hypotension three weeks post-colonoscopy with polypectomy.
• Computed tomography revealed an intraabdominal abscess, from which *Streptococcus constellatus* was cultured.

Findings:

• The patient was successfully treated with antibiotics (ceftriaxone and metronidazole) for six weeks.
• The intraabdominal abscess was attributed to micro-perforations from the colonoscopy, leading to bacterial seeding.

Implications:

• This case underscores the rare but serious risk of intraabdominal abscess formation after colonoscopy.
• Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for sepsis in patients presenting with relevant symptoms post-procedure.