Jejunal Bacterial Flora in Chronic Small Bowel Disease

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Abstract
Twelve patients with celiac disease or regional enteritis had proximal jejunal bacteriologic studies for total aerobic, total anaerobic, coliform, streptococcal, bacteroides, and lactobacilli organisms. Half of each group of subjects had definite bacterial overgrowth in the upper jejunum. These findings were correlated with clinical absorption studies, radiographic findings, gastric acidity, and immunoglobulin studies. Deficiencies in these protective mechanisms were readily apparent in the subjects, but no clear correlation was evident in all of the patients with bacterial overgrowth.