Dysbiosis of fecal microbiota and high frequency of Citrobacter, Klebsiella spp., and Actinomycetes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and gastroenteritis

AIM This study was aimed to characterize putative differences of fecal microbiota between irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gastroenteritis patients and healthy controls. BACKGROUND New evidence proposed that gut microbiota has a deep effect on the balance between health and disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS The presence of Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter spp., Enterobacteriacea and Staphylococci were detected in the samples using selective and specific culture media. Microscopic examination of the samples was done to detect Actinomycetes, yeasts, Bifidobacteria, Fusobacterium spp., as well as white blood cells, red blood cells, mucus and epithelial cells. RESULTS Results of this study showed relatively higher frequency of Citrobacter spp., Lactobacilli, and Actinomycetes in the IBS patients. Elevated levels of WBC, RBC secretion, and increased amounts of Klebsiella, Escherichia coli and Citrobacter spp. were characterized in the patients with gastroenteritis compared with the control group. CONCLUSION Depletion of gram positive cocci and gram negative bacilli also suggested dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota in these patients.