title: Antibiotics for irritable bowel syndrome: rationale and current evidence.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common gastrointestinal condition effecting adults in developed countries worldwide. Over the last decade, evidence has emerged suggesting that gut bacteria play a role in the pathophysiology of IBS. While difficult to identify using noninvasive means, one of the most common attributable bacterial concepts in IBS is the small intestinal bacterial overgrowth hypothesis (SIBO). In this article, we review the different mechanisms by which gut flora and, specifically, SIBO may contribute to IBS and the evidence supporting the use of various antibiotic therapies in treating IBS.
authors.affiliation: GI Motility Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Amit H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001765:Blind Loop Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents