Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in subjects living in residential care homes

摘要

Ojbectives: in elderly people, bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel may be occult. The significance of positive breath tests are uncertain: many fit elderly subjects with positive tests show no evidence of malabsorption. We assessed the prevalence and significance of bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel in a relatively unselected elderly population. Methods: residents of seven elderly people's homes had a glucose hydrogen breath test. A medical history and Anthropomorphic measurements were recorded. Volunteers with positive breath tests were given doxycycline. After 4 months all volunteers were reassessed.