Colonoscopy-induced Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Bacteremia Diagnosed by Serum Polymerase Chain Reaction Method

We report the case of colonoscopy induced enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) bacteremia by bacterial translocation. A 58-year old woman who complained of abdominal pain was performed colonoscopy. Intestinal mucosal culture by biopsy showed EPEC O18. She developed a high grade fever after colonoscopy. Although blood culture did not detect any bacteria, eaeA gene of EPEC was detected from patients’ serum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Though colonoscopy was performed again after receiving antibiotics, high grade fever was not seen. EPEC was not cultured from mucosa nor eaeA gene was not detected from sera. Serum PCR method is useful for detection of bacteremia.