What types of patients have Bacterial Overgrowth?
Bacterial overgrowth within the small intestine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any patient who presents with diarrhea, steatorrhea, weight loss, or macrocytic anemia, particularly if the patient is elderly or has had previous abdominal surgery. Bacterial overgrowth is commonly associated with various clinical conditions that affect intestinal motility or altered pH. Disturbances in small bowel transit (e.g., chronic intestinal obstruction, intestinal stricture, blind loop) and gastric acid secretion (e.g., achlorhydria, acid suppression) are the principal predisposing factors providing a clue to patient groups at risk of this condition.
