Bacteremia Associated with Cardiac Catheterization

Abstract

BACTEREMIA during cardiac catheterization has been reported to occur in 4 to 18 per cent of patients undergoing the procedure.1 , 2 However, in both published studies, blood for culture was obtained from the intravascular catheter or the vessel from which the catheter had been removed. It is therefore possible that some of the organisms isolated represented contamination of the external part of the catheter or the site of insertion and that bacteremia is much less frequent during catheterization.The present study was undertaken to determine the true frequency of bacteremia during and after cardiac catheterization as well as that of fever. . . .