[Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (EcN): a retrospective survey].
OBJECTIVE
In many patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), one symptom is predominant (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, meteorism, or alternating stool consistency). For IBS therapy, probiotic drugs such as Mutaflor (active ingredient: Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 [EcN]) are also being used. A systematic survey on the efficacy and safety of EcN in different IBS subgroups is still missing.


METHODS
In a gastroenterologic outpatient practice, results of 150 IBS patients treated with EcN were evaluated retrospectively. Most IBS patients enrolled belonged to the subgroups "diarrhea", "meteorism", and "alternating stool consistency".


RESULTS
Regarding the diarrhea subgroup, not only a statistically significant improvement in stool frequency was observed, but also a marked improvement in concomitant symptoms such as abnormal urge, flatulence, and abdominal fullness. These complaints improved under EcN therapy in the other IBS subgroups as well, so that efficacy was assessed as "good to very good" in 73.4% of all cases. Tolerance to treatment was "good to very good" in 97.9% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The results point to the possibility of EcN being a therapeutic option for patients of various IBS subgroups which is almost free of side effects.
Plassmann
Dominik
D
Praxis für Innere Medizin/Gastroenterologie, Münsterstrasse 18 (Cassiusbastei), 53111, Bonn, Germany. info@gastroenterologie-bonn.de
Schulte-Witte
Hildegard
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019936:Probiotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome