Symptoms of an Infection After a Colonoscopy

During a colonoscopy, a thin, flexible optical instrument called an endoscope is used to examine a patient’s large intestine. Endoscopes can sometimes carry bacteria, which may cause an infection after a colonoscopy. 

While it is common to experience some abdominal discomfort, gas pain, bloating, nausea or light rectal bleeding early in recovery, there are certain signs of infection to watch for after a colonoscopy.

You should immediately contact a medical professional if you are experiencing any symptoms of sepsis or a bacterial infection after a colonoscopy.

Possible symptoms of a bacterial infection after a colonoscopy include:

• Severe, persistent or worsening abdominal pain or cramps
• Abdominal tenderness
• Fever or chills
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting

Importantly, a scope infection can, in rare cases, lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition triggered when bacteria enter the bloodstream. Someone with sepsis might experience symptoms such as the following:

• Sweating
• Fever or chills
• Rapid heart rate or weak pulse
• Shortness of breath
• Serious pain or discomfort
• Mental confusion

If you or a family member suffered a serious bacterial infection, sepsis or other injury after getting a colonoscopy, attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to hear from you.

They’re investigating whether legal action can be taken against Olympus, a major endoscope manufacturer. Lawsuits allege that the design of Olympus endoscopes may pose an infection risk because bodily fluids and organic debris from previous patients can become “trapped” in the tip or long, narrow grooves of the device. The lawsuits claim that the cleaning protocols provided with Olympus endoscopes are not effective in removing residual tissue and fluids and that repeated use may damage the devices in ways that allow bacteria to survive sterilization.

This may expose patients who undergo a procedure using an Olympus endoscope to risks of serious bacterial infection, sepsis, organ failure and other severe—even fatal—medical conditions, the lawsuits say.

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