Small bowel bacterial overgrowth

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth

Definition:

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth is a syndrome that involves excessive numbers of bacteria growing in the small intestines. The large numbers of bacteria compete for nutrients with the person who has the condition. As a result, the person with the condition may not absorb enough nutrients.

In addition, the breakdown of nutrients by the bacteria in the small intestines can damage the cells lining the intestinal wall.

Alternative Names:

Overgrowth - intestinal bacteria; Bacterial overgrowth - intestine

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Intestinal bacteria overgrowth can be seen with many different disorders, including:

Surgical procedures -- for example, a Billroth II type of gastrectomy can block the duodenum and jejunum, causing intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Short bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol use
Ileus
Prolonged use of medicines called proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers, which supress stomach acid secretion
Small bowel diverticulosis -- small protruding sacs of the inner lining of the intestine. Although these sacs can happen anywhere along the intestinal tract, they are more common in the large bowel than the small bowel.

Review Date: 10/31/2004
Reviewed By: Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hosptial, Boston, Ma.

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