Low frequency of bacteremia after endoscopic mucosal resection.
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic mucosal resection has become a popular alternative for the treatment of early-stage neoplasia of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there are still no data on the frequency of bacteremia associated with this form of treatment.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective study of 21 men and 17 women undergoing endoscopic mucosal resection with a cap-fitted panendoscope for upper gastrointestinal lesions. Blood cultures were performed before, 10 minutes after, and 4 hours after the procedure for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.


RESULTS
Blood culture at baseline was negative in all the patients. Two of 38 patients (5.3 %) had positive blood culture at 10 minutes after the procedure. The isolated microorganisms were Streptococcus salivarius and Corynebacterium species. All patients had negative blood cultures 4 hours later. None of these 38 patients had any symptoms or signs associated with infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacteremia associated with endoscopic mucosal resection is infrequent and transient.
Departments of Internal Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
T H
TH
Lee
P R
PR
Hsueh
W C
WC
Yeh
H P
HP
Wang
T H
TH
Wang
J T
JT
Lin
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003354:Corynebacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology