Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth Definition Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is defined as the presence of excessive bacteria in the small intestine. SIBO is frequently implicated as the cause of chronic diarrhea and malabsorption. Patients with SIBO may also suffer from unintentional weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, and osteoporosis. A common misconception is that SIBO affects only a limited number of patients, such as those with an anatomic abnormality of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract or those with a motility disorder. Prevalence The prevalence of SIBO in the general population is unknown but estimated to be 0–35% in healthy individuals. Anywhere from 30% to 85% of adult patients with IBS are estimated to have SIBO, with the most current data reporting 67% as determined by duodenal aspiration and culture. Two meta-analyses have shown 3.5–9.6 fold increased odds of SIBO in patients with IBS. In the United States and Europe, one in fiv