Is there postdefecation bacteremia?
S. Slavin and R. M. Goldwyn
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.
