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.
Lee
T H
TH
Departments of Internal Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsueh
P R
PR
Yeh
W C
WC
Wang
H P
HP
Wang
T H
TH
Lin
J T
JT
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