Small Bowel Motor Activity and Bacterial Overgrowth

A patient with chronic painless diarrhea is described in whom bacterial overgrowth was diagnosed. At presentation, no migrating motor complexes were found. The bacterial overgrowth was cleared, and the patient reported symptomatic improvement. Another motility study was undertaken, and this revealed highly abnormal migrating complexes. The study suggested that the bacterial overgrowth was due to an underlying motor disorder, and that the presence of the bacteria modified the motor activity of the small bowel. Diagnosis and treatment of bacterial overgrowth should be undertaken in patients with chronic, painless diarrhea when dysmotility is suspected.