HARRISON J. SHULL Jr., M.D.; BRUCE M. GREENE, M.D.; STEPHEN D. ALLEN, M.D.; G. DEWEY DUNN, M.D., F.A.C.P.; STEVEN SCHENKER, M.D.
Fifty patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal fiberoptic endoscopy were studied prospectively for the development of bacteremia by aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures obtained before, during, and at 5 and 30 minutes after the procedure. Forty-six patients were culture negative; four had positive cultures at 5 or 30 minutes after the procedure, or at both times. The level of bacteremia as estimated by pour plates was very low. Bacteremia did not correlate with the performance of biopsy or the type of mucosal abnormality found. It is concluded that only very high-risk patients should receive antimicrobial prophylaxis before this procedure. The minor risk of this low-level bacteremia should not be considered a contraindication to the performance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
SHULL HJ, GREENE BM, ALLEN SD, et al. Bacteremia with Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Ann Intern Med. 1975;83:212–214. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-83-2-212
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1975;83(2):212-214.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-83-2-212
Infectious Disease, Multi-Organ Failure and Sepsis, Pulmonary/Critical Care.
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