DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SMALL INTESTINE BACTERIAL OVERGROWTH

Abstract

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the pathological growth of intestinal microbiota that causes clinical symptoms and can lead to digestive and absorption disorders. This literature review sought to analyze efficient diagnostic methods and verify which treatments have the greatest scientific evidence for eradicating SIBO and alleviating its main symptoms. A search for studies was carried out in the PubMed and BVS Regional databases using the descriptors “small intestinal bacterial overgrowth”, “treatment”, “diagnosis” with the Boolean operator “AND” and a total of 20 articles were selected after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Through the studies analyzed, the most presented diagnostic method was the glucose and lactulose breath tests, which despite having some limitations, are the most widely used in clinical practice today. Regarding treatment, the therapeutic basis is formed by the use of antibiotics and a specific diet to eradicate intestinal bacterial overpopulation. Furthermore, it is necessary to pay attention to the SIBO subtypes and provide individualized treatment for each patient. Further studies on the subject are also needed to try to find more assertive therapeutic measures and diagnostic methods with fewer limitations.