A prospective evaluation of the incidence of bacteremia associated with EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration.

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)--guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is frequently performed for diagnostic evaluation of lesions in or near the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Little data exist concerning possible infectious complications associated with EUS-guided FNA. This prospective evaluation was undertaken to determine the frequency of bacteremia and infectious complications associated with EUS-guided FNA.

METHODS

All patients undergoing EUS-guided FNA for any indication were enrolled in this study. Patients who required antibiotic prophylaxis as per the American Heart Association or American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy guidelines were excluded from the study as were patients with cystic lesions, patients with advanced liver disease/ascites and those with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Blood cultures were obtained 30 and 60 minutes after the EUS-FNA. Patients were monitored for evidence of infection after procedure including telephone follow-up of each subject 1 week after procedure.

RESULTS

One hundred patients underwent EUS-FNA of 108 lesions. All blood cultures were negative except in 6 patients in whom 1 of 2 bottles were positive for coagulase negative Staphylococcus, which was considered a contaminant. There were no complications of acute febrile illness, abscess or other infections.

CONCLUSION

EUS-guided FNA was not associated with bacteremia or infectious complications.