Does Bacteremia Follow Colonoscopy?

Colonoscopy and bacteraemia.

“…This study supports the findings of Norfleet et al (1976) that bacteraemia is not a complication of colonoscopy. Le Frock et al (1975) found bacteraemia in 11 % of persons having barium enemas.…”

Bacteraemia following endoscopy

“…The patient had undergone herniorraphy four days after endoscopy, thus there is doubt as to the source of infection. Previous studies of blood cultures in association with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy found asymptomatic transient bacteraemia in 0–8 per cent of patients 2–7 . In only four studies were the types of endoscopes recorded.…”

Prevention of Late PJI

“…One of the earliest published studies found that there was transient bacteremia when rigid sigmoidoscopies were performed as measured by blood cultures 5, 10, 15, and 30 min after the procedure . Three older studies evaluating bacteremia in colonoscopies found the burden of bacteria in the blood to be very low, except in immunocompromised patients, such as those with severe liver disease or carcinomatosis . During the same time frame, other studies demonstrated up to 15% bacteremia after colonoscopies .…”