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Antibiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Rationale and Current Evidence

  • Large Intestine (B Cash, Section Editor)
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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.

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  1. GI Motility Laboratory, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8730 Alden Drive Thalians Building, 2nd floor East, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    Amit H. Sachdev & Mark Pimentel

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  1. Amit H. Sachdev
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Sachdev, A.H., Pimentel, M. Antibiotics for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Rationale and Current Evidence. Curr Gastroenterol Rep 14, 439–445 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11894-012-0284-2

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