RT Journal
A1 Slavin S, Goldwyn RM
T1 IS there postdefecation bacteremia?
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1979
FD August 1
VO 114
IS 8
SP 937
OP 938
DO 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370320069012
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370320069012
AB • An investigation was done to determine the incidence of postdefecation bacteremia. A study of 82 healthy volunteers was done. Among 164 predefecation cultures, only one (0.6%) from an anaerobic flask was positive for microorganism, which was identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis. In only two of 328 (0.6%) postdefecation cultures did microorganisms grow, which were shown to be Propionibacterium acnes. The results of this study suggest that either bacteremia after defecation does not occur or is a rare event in healthy individuals.(Arch Surg 114:937-938, 1979)