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Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Symptom Score

Purpose: To determine the effect of oral antibiotics on clinical symptoms associated with bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel as proposed by Castiglione et al.

Description

Castiglione et al developed a simple symptom score to monitor the impact of antibiotic therapy in a patient with bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine. This can help determine the clinical effectiveness of the antibiotics. The authors are from the Universita Federico II in Naples, Italia.


The symptom score is determined before and after broad spectrum antibiotic therapy.

 

Symptoms:

(1) bloating

(2) soft stools

(3) abdominal pain

 

Symptom Severity

Points

none

0

mild

1

moderate

2

severe

3

 

total symptom score =

= SUM(points for all 3 symptoms)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum score: 0

• maximum score: 9

• A person with bacterial overgrowth of the small intestine should have a score of 6 to 9.

• Following successful antibiotic therapy the score should be markedly decreased (probably <= 3).

• Failure of the expected response could be due to (a) incorrect antibiotic selection, (b) incorrect diagnosis of bacterial overgrowth, or (c) bacterial overgrowth mixed with another condition associated with malabsorption.


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Specialty

Objective

ICD-10