title: The prevalence of overgrowth by aerobic bacteria in the small intestine by small bowel culture: relationship with irritable bowel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies have linked irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), although they have done so on a qualitative basis using breath tests even though quantitative cultures are the hallmark of diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to underscore the frequency of SIBO in a large number of Greeks necessitating upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract endoscopy by using quantitative microbiological assessment of the duodenal aspirate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive subjects presenting for upper GI endoscopy were eligible to participate. Quantitative culture of aspirates sampled from the third part of the duodenum during upper GI tract endoscopy was conducted under aerobic conditions. IBS was defined by Rome II criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 320 subjects enrolled, SIBO was diagnosed in 62 (19.4%); 42 of 62 had IBS (67.7%). SIBO was found in 37.5% of IBS sufferers. SIBO was found in 60% of IBS patients with predominant diarrhea compared with 27.3% without diarrhea (P = 0.004). Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common isolates within patients with SIBO. A step-wise logistic regression analysis revealed that IBS, history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and intake of proton pump inhibitors were independently and positively linked with SIBO; gastritis was protective against SIBO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using culture of the small bowel, SIBO by aerobe bacteria is independently linked with IBS. These results reinforce results of clinical trials evidencing a therapeutic role of non-absorbable antibiotics for the management of IBS symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Sismanogleion General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmannouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pyleris
authors.forename: Evangelos J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Giamarellos-Bourboulis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tzivras
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Koussoulas
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barbatzas
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D058491:Bacterial Load; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004386:Duodenum / Q000382:microbiology*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors