Does previous bacterial gut infection increase the risk of IBS?

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Are excessive or prolonged immune responses to Campylobacter jejuni or Salmonella enteritidis infection associated with an increased risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

• IRAS ID

  102714

• Contact name

  Rachael Rigby

• Contact email

  rachael.rigby@lancaster.ac.uk

• Research summary

  Summary of Results
  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterised by abnormal gastrointestinal motility associated with psychosocial factors. Increasing evidence supports an indirect role of infection with the onset of IBS-like symptoms. Dysbiosis (disruption of the distribution and/or numbers of normal microflora) may also play a role in the pathophysiology of IBS, potentially through the impact of microflora on neuroendocrine pathways. An infection can cause dysbiosis which may lead to IBS. To explore this theory, the antibody levels against Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enteritidis were measured in three different patient groups. Indirect ELISA was used to measure levels of IgA and IgG to Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enteritidis in 90 patients, either with IBS (30), IBD (30) and controls (30). Data was analysed using appropriate statistical tests to establish whether antibody levels were significantly raised in IBS patients. IBS patients had a higher percentage of positive samples compared to the control and IBD groups. This supports the post-infectious IBS theory. Interestingly the IBD group had a lower percentage of positive samples compared to the control group. The hygiene hypothesis for IBD may account for these findings.

• REC name

  North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/NW/0178

• Date of REC Opinion

  4 Apr 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion