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Endoscopy 1985; 17(5): 170-172
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1018492
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© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Bacteriaemia Associated with Endoscopic Sclerotherapy of Oesophageal Varices

T. Sauerbruch, J. Holl, G. Ruckdeschel, J. Förstl, M. Weinzierl
  • Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Großhadern and Max-von-Pettenkofer Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, University of Munich, FRG
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Publication History

Publication Date:
17 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Studies on the incidence of bacteraemia following endoscopic injection sclerotherapy produce equivocal results. Accordingly, we performed a prospective study in 24 patients who underwent a total of 40 sclerotherapy sessions. Blood was drawn before, during, and 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 3 hours and 24 hours after sclerotherapy. Transient bacteraemia (mostly during and 5 minutes after sclerotherapy) was detected in 21 (53 %) procedures. The bacteraemic events bore no relation to febrile episodes. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were α-haemolytic Streptococcus spp. and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp.. We conclude that injection sclerotherapy is associated with a high incidence of bacteraemia which, however, in most cases is transient and does not lead to septic disease.

Key words:

Bacteraemia - Injection sclerotherapy - Oesophageal varices