Frequency of bacteremia associated with transesophageal echocardiography in intensive care unit patients

Abstract

The overall frequency of bacteremia induced by transesophageal echocardiography in ICU patients was 1.4% (two of 139 patients) (95% confidence interval 0.2% to 5.1%). The frequency did not differ whether patients received antibiotics before transesophageal echocardiography (one [1.2%] of 83 patients) or not (one [1.8%] of 56 patients) (p = .96). Therefore, routine antimicrobial prophylaxis does not appear justified before transesophageal echocardiography in ICU patients.