Does bacteremia occur during flexible sigmoidoscopy?

Up to 10% of patients may have bacteremia after rigid sigmoidoscopy. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency of bacteremia accompanying flexible sigmoidoscopy. Blood samples for aerobic and anaerobic cultures were obtained before, during, and after flexible sigmoidoscopy in 100 patients who were examined a mean distance of 49.5 cm, range 15-60 cm, after a bowel preparation of two Fleet enemas. In one patient, a transient bacteremia with Streptococcus intermedius was documented and was attended by no associated clinical manifestations. This organism has been previously isolated from patients with endocarditis, peritonitis, emphysema, and hepatic and appendiceal abscesses. There was no association in our study with bacteremia and such factors as length of bowel examined and duration of procedure, the presence of bowel pathology, performance of endoscopic biopsies, liver disease, and portal hypertension or poor bowel preparation. We conclude that the extremely low incidence of significant bacteremia with flexible sigmoidoscopy may be related to the smaller diameter of the instrument and provides further support for the routine use of flexible rather than rigid sigmoidoscopy.