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Endoscopy-related bacteremia
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Bacteremia, or bacteria in the bloodstream, is rare after gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study found positive blood cultures in 1% of gastroscopy and 4% of coloscopy patients, with no cases after ERCP.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract is a common diagnostic and therapeutic procedure.
- The risk of bacteremia following invasive procedures is a clinical concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate the incidence and frequency of bacteremia after various gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study design was employed.
- Blood cultures were obtained from patients undergoing gastroscopy, coloscopy, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).
- Positive blood cultures were analyzed for bacterial identification.
Main Results:
- Bacteremia was detected in 1 out of 100 patients (1%) following gastroscopy.
- Bacteremia was detected in 1 out of 25 patients (4%) following coloscopy.
- No bacteremia was observed in 25 patients undergoing ERCP.
Conclusions:
- Bacteremia is an infrequent complication of gastroscopy and coloscopy.
- Anaerobic lactobacilli were the identified organisms in positive blood cultures.
- ERCP appears to carry no significant risk of bacteremia in this study cohort.