Germs, gas and the gut; the evolving role of the enteric flora in IBS.

Overview

Gas-related symptoms are common in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), though their pathophysiology remains poorly understood, various studies invoking increased gas production, impaired gas transit, and increased sensitivity to gas. Recent evidence suggests a potential role for bacterial overgrowth in some patients with IBS; the study discussed herein provides further support for this concept by describing an amelioration of bloating and flatulence following a short course of the poorly absorbed antibiotic, rifaximin.