Advances in Studies on Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth in Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with complicated mechanisms. Several factors have been identified as etiological factors of IBS,such as altered gastrointestinal motility,visceral hypersensitivity,intestinal infection,abnormal brain-gut interaction and immunological activation,etc.Recent studies have shown that small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IBS.This article reviewed the advances of studies on SIBO in IBS,including pathophysiologic mechanisms,diagnosis and treatment.