Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome Treatment & Management

  • Author: Saqib Zaheer Syed, MBBS; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD   more...
 
Updated: Apr 11, 2011
 

Medical Care

Treatment in bacterial overgrowth syndrome (BOS) should include correction of primary underlying disease if any, including antibiotic therapy and nutritional support. The primary approach should be the treatment of any disease or anatomic defect that potentiated bacterial overgrowth. Many of the clinical conditions associated with bacterial overgrowth syndrome are not readily reversible, and management is based on antibiotic therapy aimed at rebalancing enteric flora. Careful consideration must be taken to prevent total eradication of protective microorganisms. The goal should be directed at reducing symptoms. Initial antibiotic therapy is usually empiric and should be broad and cover both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms. Community resistance patterns should also be considered.

Tetracycline was the mainstay of therapy, but its use as single agent has fallen out of favor in adult patients given community increases in bacterial resistance.

Bacterial sensitivities from duodenal intubations with nonidiopathic bacterial overgrowth syndrome support the use of amoxicillin-clavulanate. Amoxicillin-clavulanate appears to be 75% effective in patients with diabetes.

Studies show that rifaximin eradicates bowel overgrowth syndrome in as many as 80% of patients.[18, 19] Higher doses (1200 or 1600 mg/d) are more effective then standard doses (600 or 800 mg/d).[20] Long-term favorable clinical results have been achieved with rifaximin in patients with irritable bowel and BOS.[21]

Clindamycin and metronidazole are useful in elderly patients with idiopathic bacterial overgrowth syndrome.

As outlined below, gentamicin, but not metronidazole, significantly improves intractable diarrhea in children younger than 1 year.[22]

Cholestyramine reduces diarrhea in infants and neonates with intractable diarrhea.[23] Infants with 10-25 days of severe persistent diarrhea for which a cause could not be found despite an extensive infectious and immunologic workup were treated with cholestyramine and gentamicin or metronidazole. Cholestyramine and gentamicin significantly reduced stool weight within 4-5 days of therapy but had mild detrimental effects on fat and nitrogen absorption.

Ciprofloxacin and metronidazole result in normalization of hydrogen breath tests in most patients with Crohn disease.[24]

Norfloxacin, cephalexin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and levofloxacin have been recommended for the treatment of bacterial overgrowth syndrome.[4, 25]

The exact length of therapy is not clearly defined; length of therapy should be tailored to symptom improvement. A single 7-10 day course of antibiotic may improve symptoms in 46-90% of patients with bacterial overgrowth syndrome.[26] . Recurrence following therapy is not uncommon and is more likely in elder patients, especially those with history of appendectomy and chronic proton pump inhibitor use. Patients with recurrent symptoms may need repeated (eg, the first 5-10 d of every month) or continuous use of cyclical antibiotic therapy.[4]

Probiotic therapy results in bacterial overgrowth syndrome have been inconclusive and not generally recommended for general clinic use.[2, 27]

Therapeutic use of prokinetics in bacterial overgrowth syndrome due to motility disorders have been tried in many studies. Metoclopramide, cisapride, domperidone, erythromycin, tegaserod, and octreotide have been used; however, data suggest long-term effectiveness is limited.[25]

Nutritional support with dietary modifications such as lactose-free diet, vitamin replacement, and correction of deficiencies in nutrients like calcium and magnesium should be an important part of bacterial overgrowth syndrome treatment, if applicable.

Certain potential underlying abnormalities are amenable to treatment, as follows:

The following potential underlying diseases are not amenable to treatment, but prevention of their progression may be therapeutic:

  • Diabetic autonomic neuropathy
  • Scleroderma
  • Pseudoobstruction
  • Amyloidosis
  • Achlorhydria
  • Vagotomy
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Surgical Care

In the absence of underlying structural abnormalities that limit normal bowel function, surgery is not generally unwarranted.

  • Repair postoperative strictures and blind loops; for example, a Billroth type II may need conversion to a Billroth type I.
  • Strictures, fistulae, and diverticula may require surgical correction.
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Consultations

  • Patients refractory to standard medical or surgical treatment or those who have severe symptoms should be referred to a gastroenterologist/infectious disease specialist.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Saqib Zaheer Syed, MBBS  Resident Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark R Wallace, MD, FACP, FIDSA  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine; Head of Infectious Disease Fellowship Program, Orlando Regional Medical Center

Mark R Wallace, MD, FACP, FIDSA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  Professor, Stewart G Wolf Chair in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center

Michael Stuart Bronze, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, Association of Professors of Medicine, Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Oklahoma State Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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