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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Food Safety and Intervention Technologies Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #201479
Title: POST-INFECTIOUS IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME: A LONG TERM CONSEQUENCE OF BACTERIAL GASTROENTERITIS

Author
item Smith, James
item Bayles, Darrell

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2007
Publication Date: 7/1/2007
Citation: Smith, J.L., Bayles, D.O. 2007. Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome: a long term consequence of bacterial gastroenteritis. Journal of Food Protection. Vol.70(7):1762-1769.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a commonly diagnosed disease characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms often associated with psychological illness and emotional problems. The prevalence rate world-wide for IBS ranges from 10 to 20% and is higher for women than for men. Irritable bowel disease imposes a substantial financial burden on both patients and employers due to increased medical costs and decreased work productivity. Recent studies indicate that inflammatory processes involving the gastrointestinal tract are strongly correlated with IBS. Acute bacterial gastroenteritis has been linked with the onset of IBS symptoms in approximately 15% of patients diagnosed with IBS; these cases have been given the name of post-infectious IBS (PI-IBS). Organisms commonly associated with PI-IBS include the foodborne pathogens Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Shigella. The pathological effects seen in PI-IBS are likely due to inflammatory reactions induced by the infecting organisms. Post-infectious IBS should be recognized as a potential long term consequence of foodborne gastroenteritis.