Bacteria: a new player in gastrointestinal motility disorders--infections, bacterial overgrowth, and probiotics.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may result from a dysfunctional interaction between the indigenous flora and the intestinal mucosa, which in turn leads to immune activation in the colonic mucosa. Some propose that bacterial overgrowth is a common causative factor in the pathogenesis of symptoms in IBS; others point to evidence suggesting that the cause stems from more subtle qualitative changes in the colonic flora. Bacterial overgrowth will probably prove not to be a major factor in what will eventually be defined as IBS. Nevertheless, short-term therapy with either antibiotics or probiotics seems to reduce symptoms among IBS patients. However, in the long term, safety issues will favor the probiotic approach; results of long-term studies with these agents are eagerly awaited.
Quigley
Eamonn M M
EM
Department of Medicine, Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Clinical Sciences Building, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. e.quigley@ucc.ie
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*