Bacteraemia following diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP

ABSTRACT

Thirty patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography [ERCP] were studied. Blood samples were taken just before, 5 minutes after cannulation of the papilla and, 15 minutes after the end of examination. The samples were cultured for both aerobic and anaerobic organisms. Seven cases [23.3%] showed positive cultures. The isolated organisms in 4 of them were considered as normal commensals of the skin. While in 3 cases [10%], the organism, were considered pathogenic. We concluded that ercp is a safe procedure and not accompanied by bacteraemia except in the immunocompromised cases. Thus, the immunocompromised patients should be considered a high risk for the development of bacteraemia following ERCP. The use of prophylactic antibiotics is recommended before and after procedure in all immunodepressed patients and patients with chronic valvular diseases