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Bacteremia in children following upper gastrointestinal endoscopy or colonoscopy
Insights
The risk of bacteremia in children undergoing gastrointestinal endoscopy is minimal. Blood cultures showed very few positive results after upper endoscopy or colonoscopy, suggesting these procedures are safe.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Procedures
Background:
- Bacteremia, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, is a potential concern following invasive procedures.
- Gastrointestinal endoscopies, including upper endoscopy and colonoscopy, are common diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively evaluate the incidence and risk of bacteremia in pediatric patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy.
- To determine if factors like general anesthesia, biopsy, or polypectomy influence bacteremia development.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 50 children for upper endoscopy and 25 for colonoscopy.
- Aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures were collected before, and at 5 and 30 minutes after procedures.
- Procedures were performed with or without general anesthesia; biopsy and polypectomy data were recorded.
Main Results:
- Only one positive blood culture was identified in a patient after upper endoscopy.
- All blood cultures from patients undergoing colonoscopy were negative.
- Neither biopsy nor polypectomy significantly correlated with the development of bacteremia.
Conclusions:
- The risk of bacteremia following pediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy is minimal.
- These procedures should not be contraindicated due to concerns about bacteremia.
- Current findings support the safety of these endoscopic interventions in children.
Abstract:
Fifty children undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 25 undergoing colonoscopy were studied prospectively with aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures for the development of bacteremia. Twenty-six of the endoscopies and all the colonoscopies were done under general anesthesia. Cultures were obtained before, at 5 min, and at 30 min after the procedure. Only a single positive blood culture was obtained in an upper endoscopy patient. All cultures from the colonoscopy patients were negative. Biopsy or polypectomy were not important variables in the development of bacteremia. It is concluded that the risk of bacteremia in children following upper endoscopy or colonoscopy is minimal and should not be considered a contraindication to their performance.