American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 128, Issue 2, 207-208
Copyright © 1977 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Bacteremia and the barium enema
DH Schimmel,
LG Hanelin,
S Cohen,
and
HI Goldberg
To investigate the possible association of bacteremia with barium enema examinations, blood samples were obtained from 42 patients before and at 5, 10, and 20 min after administration of the enema. Patients with fever or symptoms suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease were not included in the study; neither were patients who had received antimicrobiotic medication during the preceding 3 months. Pour-plate blood cultures showed no bacteremia due to enteric organism in the 42 patients-a result at variance with previously published reports.