Rational Use of Antibiotics in the Treatment of Functional Bowel Disorders

Pharmaceuticals

Michele Di Stefano¹  Roberta Fasulo¹ 

[1] id="af1-pharmaceuticals-03-02380">Department of Medicine, University of Pavia, Foundation IRCCS S.Matteo Hospital, P.le C. Golgi 2, Pavia, Ita

关键词: small intestine bacterial overgrowth;    functional bowel disorders;    irritable bowel syndrome;    rifaximin;    gas-related symptoms;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ph3082380

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Functional gastrointestinal symptoms such us bloating, fullness, flatulence, diarrhea, and constipation due to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were recently attributed to small bowel bacterial overgrowth, a condition depending on the presence of an increased number of bacteria in the small bowel. However, the methodology used to describe this association may be harshly criticized, since it has already been shown to be quite inaccurate. As a result an inappropriate use of antibiotics was consequently generated. In fact, antibiotics could be effective in the treatment of functional complaints, but only in a limited subgroup of patients, characterized by an increase of fermentation at colonic level. In this review, we have examined the papers suggesting a pathophysiological link between IBS and small bowel bacterial overgrowth, underlining its inappropriateness, and put forth our personal view on the rationale for antibiotic use in IBS.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.