Wagner H J, Feeken T, Mutters R, Klose K J
Abteilung Strahlendiagnostik, Philipps-Universität Marburg.
Rofo. 1998 Oct;169(4):402-7. doi: 10.1055/s-2007-1015307.
Prospective evaluation of the rate of bacteremia attributed to invasive radiological techniques.
Aerobic and anerobic blood cultures were obtained in 100 patients (62 men, 38 women; mean age 65 +/- 14 years) undergoing intra-arterial angiography (N = 50), PTA (N = 30) or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTCD; N = 20). Samples were taken before the treatment (T0), immediately after puncture of the vessel or bile duct (T2), and 30 min after the termination of the procedure (T3).
The overall rate of bacteremia was 18%. During diagnostic angiography a 16% rate of temporary bacteremia (no positive T3 samples) was observed. During PTA the rate was 27% (no clinically significant infectious disease) and during PTCD the rate was 10% (5% cholangitis with septicemia). We isolated staphylococci (S. epidermidis: N = 7, S. species: N = 3, S. aureus: N = 1), streptococci (N = 2), Propionibacterium acnes (N = 5), E. coli (N = 1), Enterococcus faecium (N = 1), Enterobacter species (N = 1), and Clostridium perfringens (N = 1). Apart from the one patient with cholangitis no clinical infectious complication occurred.
Temporary bacteremia is rather frequent during invasive radiological procedures. Strictly aseptic conditions and antibiotic prophylaxis, specially in case of implantation of a permanent foreign body, is warranted.
