Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth During Chronic Pancreatitis

Abstract

SummaryIntroduction. The presence of an intestinal bacterial overgrowth (IBO) in patients with pancreatic insufficiency has been recently suggested to justify the worsening of their clinical conditions despite pancreatic enzyme supplementation.Aim. The purposes of this study were (a) to verify IBO frequency in patients with pancreatic insufficiency owing to chronic pancreatitis and (b) to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of a non-absorbable antibiotic, Rifaximin, in reducing IBO frequency and influencing the clinical picture of the disease.Material and Methods. Thirty-five patients with pancreatic insufficiency owing to chronic pancreatitis and 61 gastro-resected patients without pancreatic disease were studied. The presence of IBO was tested in both groups of patients using the hydrogen breath test with glucose. Chronic pancreatitis patients were subsequently treated with Rifaximin, 400 mg t.i.d for seven consecutive days each month for three months.Results. A positive hydrogen breath test w...