Introduction:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder with a multifactorial pathophysiology, including alterations in the gut microbiota. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) may coexist with IBS and exacerbate symptoms, adversely affecting quality of life.

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of rifaximin therapy on quality of life in patients diagnosed with IBS and SIBO, using the validated IBS-QoL instrument and Rome IV criteria.

Methods:

A quasi-experimental study was conducted at a gastroenterology center in Cartagena, Colombia, between June 2023 and January 2024. Patients with IBS diagnosed through Rome IV criteria and a positive breath test for SIBO were included. Participants received rifaximin 550 mg every 8 hours for 14 days. Quality of life was assessed before and after treatment using the IBS-QoL scale.

Results:

Seventy-one patients with confirmed SIBO were enrolled. The mean age was 48.6 years, and 81.8% were women. Following treatment, a significant improvement in quality-of-life scores was observed (p <0.001), along with a reduction in major symptoms-particularly abdominal distension, bloating, and flatulence. A total of 26.7% of participants reported no improvement.

Conclusion:

The study suggests that rifaximin therapy is associated with symptomatic improvement and enhanced quality of life among patients with IBS and SIBO, with the greatest benefit observed in those presenting with abdominal distension.

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