Do Antibiotics Cause Functional Bowel Symptoms?

Acute antibiotic-associated diarrhea is well known, but results of several studies also suggest an association between short-term antibiotic use and persistent irritable bowel symptoms. In this prospective case-control study, researchers enrolled 91 outpatients from general practices in London: 42 had just received antibiotics (usually, amoxicillin or macrolides for respiratory infections), and 49 were age- and sex-matched controls who had not received antibiotics during the previous year.

At baseline, about 20% of both groups fulfilled Rome criteria for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). At 4 months, new functional bowel symptoms were reported by 48% of antibiotic recipients and by 22% of controls -- a significant difference. Among a subgroup …