Can You Get Sepsis From a Colonoscopy? [2026 Update]

The Colonoscopy and Sepsis Lawsuit is an Active Lawsuit

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It is possible to get sepsis from a colonoscopy, although it is a rare complication of the procedure. Colonoscopy is one of the safest endoscopic procedures. Serious infection-related medical visits after screening colonoscopies are estimated at approximately 1 to 2 per 1,000 procedures. When infections do occur, they may be the result of pathogens entering the bloodstream due to a tissue injury and/or contaminated colonoscope or endoscope.

However, when they do occur, post-colonoscopy infections can be severe and potentially lead to sepsis if not treated quickly. Infections and subsequent sepsis are more likely in non-screening colonoscopy procedures and in patients with compromised immune systems. On this page, you can learn more about sepsis after a colonoscopy and what to watch for in yourself or a loved one.

About the Sepsis From a Colonoscopy

What Is Sepsis and Why Is It Dangerous?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) describes sepsis as an extreme bodily response to an infection . It is a life-threatening, systemic inflammatory state. When someone has sepsis, their body attempts to fight off the infection in a way that releases chemicals that can damage organs and tissues.

The CDC estimates that around 1.7 million Americans develop sepsis each year, with at least 350,000 cases proving fatal. The fatality rate for sepsis varies depending on the severity of the response, ranging from around 10% for mild cases to 50% or greater for septic shock. According to the CDC, older patients are at a greater risk of developing sepsis.

According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, most cases of sepsis are caused by bacterial infections , though viral and fungal infections (and even some traumatic injuries) have been known to cause sepsis.

How Can a Colonoscopy Lead to Sepsis?

Colonoscopies can cause sepsis by transmitting potentially dangerous bacteria into bodily systems, possibly leading to an infection. For example, a contaminated endoscope could introduce bacteria into someone’s system. Or, tissue damage caused during a colonoscopy can allow bacteria to spread outside of the intestine. Screening colonoscopies (the kind done for colon cancer screenings in people without symptoms) are less likely to lead to an infection than operative/diagnostic colonoscopies (the kind done in symptomatic people to diagnose a condition).

Can Bacteria Enter the Bloodstream During a Colonoscopy?

Bacteria can enter the bloodstream during a colonoscopy through mucosal disruption, biopsies, or therapeutic interventions, or perforations in the colon. When this happens, it is called transient bacteremia. This is the reason diagnostic colonoscopies are more likely to cause an infection than screening colonoscopies. Some bacterial organisms that are relatively benign in the colon, where they are kept in check, can cause infections when they enter the bloodstream.

Most minor blood exposures don’t lead to bacteremia, but such exposures can be dangerous in some patients, including high-risk patients.

Can a Colon Perforation Cause Sepsis?

A colon perforation can cause an infection that leads to sepsis. For that reason, it is a serious complication associated with colonoscopies. A colon perforation exposes the bloodstream to bacterial gut flora (bacteria), potentially leading to a serious infection.

Colon perforations during colonoscopies are rare, with rates of around 0.016% to 0.2% in screening colonoscopies. However, the rate rises with colonoscopic interventions, capping out at around 5% for some of the more aggressive colonoscopic surgeries.

Can Contaminated Equipment Cause Infection?

Contaminated endoscopes are an ongoing infection risk. Colonoscopes have a higher rate of post-processing contamination than other endoscopes, with as many as 31.95% testing positive for bacteria after reprocessing. However, the rate of colonoscopic infections is lower than that of most other endoscopic procedures. This is because contamination doesn’t necessarily lead to infection, particularly in non-sterile environments like the colon.

Can Bowel Prep Increase Infection Risk?

Colonoscopy prep is not likely to increase the risk of infection. However, these protocols can disrupt gut flora, reducing the amount of beneficial gut bacteria present. These microorganisms, like Lactobacillaceae, help keep less desirable bacterial populations in check.

How Common Is Sepsis After a Colonoscopy?

Sepsis after a colonoscopy is a relatively rare complication. A 2018 John Hopkins study, one of the most thorough on colonoscopy-related infections, did not specifically track cases of sepsis. However, the study did find:

• Colonoscopies have a ~0.1%–0.2% infection risk within 7 days, between 1 and 2 procedures in 1,000.
• Therapeutic procedures such as biopsies and polypectomy have higher rates of infection than screening procedures.
• Around 61.8% of individuals who sought emergency care for post-colonoscopy infections required inpatient hospitalization.
• Of those individuals hospitalized with colonoscopy-related infections, 0.4% died after a screening colonoscopy and 1.7% after a non-screening colonoscopy.

Although not all the infection-related deaths can be conclusively attributed to sepsis, sepsis is the leading cause of infection-related deaths. Likewise, not every case of sepsis is fatal.

Who Is Most at Risk for Sepsis After a Colonoscopy?

Sepsis is a dysfunctional immune response, one that is more likely to occur in individuals with compromised immune systems or certain preexisting conditions. Additionally, the nature and complexity of some procedures can increase the risk of infection and, subsequently, sepsis. Below are some of the circumstances associated with higher rates of sepsis.

What Medical Conditions May Increase Your Risk?

Medical comorbidities can increase the likelihood of developing sepsis from a post-colonoscopy infection. Among the strongest predictors are:

• Advanced liver disease
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis)
• Patients on immunosuppressants
• Fluid or electrolyte disorders
• A history of cancer

These conditions can affect the body’s immune responses, leading to dysfunction when it encounters a serious infection.

Does Age or Recent Hospitalization Matter?

Older adults and recently hospitalized patients have significantly higher infection rates following colonoscopies, in part due to older patients tending to have more comorbidities than younger patients. For example, a study of serious complications following screening colonoscopies in adults aged 76 to 85 found a serious infection rate of around 13.58 per 1,000 patients, or around 1.3%.

Recent hospitalizations were even more predictive of serious infections than age, with rates as high as 45 per 1,000 patients who had been hospitalized 30 days or less prior to their screening colonoscopy.

Are Certain Procedures Riskier Than Others?

Screening colonoscopies are less likely to cause perforations and bleeding. Therefore, they have lower infection rates than diagnostic colonoscopies. The rate of infection for screening colonoscopies is around 1.1 per 1,000 procedures compared to 1.6 per 1,000 non-screening colonoscopies. Longer procedures were also more likely to result in infection.

What Are the Warning Signs of Sepsis After a Colonoscopy?

Sepsis is most likely to present with symptoms within one to seven days after a colonoscopy. Patients experiencing the symptoms below should seek immediate attention to avoid potentially life-threatening complications and serious organ injuries.

Early Symptoms to Watch For

Early symptoms of sepsis may resemble a severe case of the flu. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases uses the acronym TIME to describe early sepsis symptoms. These are:

• Temperature: Often a fever with chills, sometimes followed by abnormally low body temperature.
• Infection: Displaying secondary signs or symptoms associated with an infection.
• Mental decline: Confusion, drowsiness, brain fog
• Appearing extremely ill: Severe pain, discomfort, or a sense that one is severely sick

These symptoms may come on very quickly.

Severe Symptoms That May Require Emergency Care

Severe sepsis symptoms may be an early sign of organ failure and require immediate emergency care. These may include:

• Decreased urination
• Shortness of breath
• Severe disorientation
• Jaundice
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heart rate

Laboratory testing can confirm a patient is experiencing sepsis.

How Is Sepsis After a Colonoscopy Diagnosed and Treated?

Sepsis is often diagnosed through blood tests and imaging scans after a patient presents with symptoms of a severe infection or if medical providers suspect a colon perforation. Treatment involves managing both the underlying infection and the body’s inflammatory response as a way to protect the patient’s organs. Early treatment greatly improves prognoses.

What Is the Standard Treatment for Sepsis?

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2026 recommends the following treatments for sepsis:

• Immediately administering antibiotics (or antimicrobials) in cases where sepsis is probable or within three hours if infection concerns persist and sepsis is considered possible.
• Fluid resuscitation (30 mL/kg guideline)
• Vasopressors if needed
• Mechanical ventilation in cases with acute respiratory distress
• VTE prophylaxis and insulin if necessary

Providers may also manage comorbidities exacerbated by sepsis.

Why Is Early Treatment Critical?

Early treatment greatly increases patient survival. Sepsis is the leading cause of infection-related deaths globally, and can be fatal in as few as 12 hours. If a patient enters septic shock, the risk of mortality increases by 40%. Survivors of severe cases of sepsis have the risk of developing Post-Sepsis Syndrome (PSS) and worsened medical conditions.

How Do Doctors Prevent Sepsis During Colonoscopy?

Doctors try to prevent sepsis during and after colonoscopies through a multi-pronged approach that seeks to reduce the risk of infection and promptly intervene if one arises. These strategies consist of:

• High-level sterilization and reprocessing of reusable colonoscopes. This process involves manual scrubbing, leak testing, chemical disinfectants, and drying. However, some brands of reusable endoscopes have proved difficult to reprocess.
• Screening patients to identify individuals who run a higher risk of infection and sepsis.
• Monitoring patients and educating them on symptoms of infection or sepsis after their procedure.
• Following procedural safety protocols during the colonoscopy.

Patient-specific safety measures may also be taken.

Are Antibiotics Used Before a Colonoscopy?

Most patients will not be given antibiotics as a safety measure prior to their colonoscopy. Giving pre-colonoscopy antibiotics is not recommended by ASGE or IDSA, outside of high-risk cases. However, patients with abdominal lining infections, advanced liver disease, or certain cardiac conditions may be prescribed antibiotics as a protective measure.

How Are Colonoscopes Sterilized?

The CDC recommends a seven-step high-level disinfection (HLD) protocol for endoscopes, including colonoscopes.

1. Pre-cleaning at point-of-use to prevent biofilm build-up
2. Pressurized leak testing
3. Manual cleaning using specialized brushes and detergents
4. Visual inspection under magnification
5. Chemical disinfection under specified time and temperature
6. Rinsing and drying
7. Storage in a well-ventilated, sterile cabinet

According to CDC recommendations, manual cleaning has been found to be the most important step in preventing endoscope-related infections.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention After a Colonoscopy?

Patients should seek medical attention if they have signs of an infection or sepsis after a colonoscopy, particularly if symptoms are severe or worsening.

• Fever
• Chills/shaking
• Severe abdominal pain
• Urinating less or having a strong urge to urinate
• Rapid or very shallow breathing
• Lethargy and weakness
• Confusion

Early intervention greatly improves outcomes and helps avoid sepsis and septic shock.

Can You File a Lawsuit for Sepsis After a Colonoscopy?

Sepsis after a colonoscopy is a frightening occurrence. Once patients have been treated, they may begin to question why they developed an infection in the first place. An attorney can help evaluate whether negligence or device-related issues contributed to the infection.

Some patients may qualify to file a lawsuit for sepsis after a colonoscopy, particularly if the infection was caused by a known device defect or negligence. For example, a patient may be able to build a lawsuit if:

• The colonoscope was improperly sterilized
• The sepsis diagnosis was delayed
• The device is known to be extremely difficult to properly sterilize

If you suspect any of the above, you should consult with an attorney promptly to evaluate your case and options.

King Law Is Investigating Sepsis Cases After Colonoscopy Procedures

King Law is currently investigating sepsis cases related to colonoscopy procedures nationwide. Infections can occur after colonoscopies, and a contaminated medical device may be responsible. Manufacturer or medical provider negligence may be grounds for a lawsuit. King Law is reviewing cases involving:

• Sepsis after colonoscopy
• Infections linked to contaminated scopes

King Law offers free case consultations with no obligation to continue.

Contact a Colonoscopy Infection Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has suffered from sepsis after a colonoscopy, contact King Law today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation by dialing (585) 496-2648 or filling out a form on this site. Our lawyers work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost to pursuing your claim. You can also read more about this topic on our colonoscopy infection lawsuit page.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

List of Sources Used in This Article

King Law uses rigorous editorial standards when creating articles for our website. Here is a list of citations to support this article.

Works Cited

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