Diverticulosis of the small intestine. Clinical, bacteriologic, and metabolic observations in a group of seven patients.

Abstract

Seven patients with small-intestinal diverticulosis were studied by means of intestinal absorptive tests, biopsies, and bacterial cultures of small-intestinal aspirates. Aerobic bacterial cultures were obtained in all patients, while anaerobic cultures with a modified Hungate roll-tube technic were performed in 3. Three of the patients manifested steatorrhea and were studied over prolonged periods of time. The bacterial flora varied over a wide quantitative range, with highest total counts in excess of 109 colony-forming units per milliliter found in the 2 patients with the most severe malabsorption. Despite multiple diverticulosis, 1 patient without steatorrhea had no recoverable aerobic or anaerobic bacterial flora. E. coli predominated among the recovered aerobic organisms in this series, but A. aerogenes and various streptococci also were encountered repeatedly. Patients treated with antibiotics directed at the aerobic flora showed prompt improvement in absorption, and reduction in bacterial counts. Repeated short courses of antibiotics were needed to treat early bacteriologic and clinical relapses. After several such courses, all 3 patients treated maintained their clinical and metabolic improvement for periods of close observation ranging from 2 to 15 months without additional antibiotic treatment, and the clinical remissions were accompanied by gradual reductions in total bacterial counts to “borderline normal” limits. Of the 3 patients, 1 has now been followed for 5 years without relapse. It is apparent that the mere presence of diverticulosis does not lead necessarily to malabsorption. Malabsorption of fat, Vitamin B12, and other nutrients was found only in patients with excessive bacterial flora, emphasizing the crucial role bacteria play in the pathogenesis of malabsorption in diverticulosis of the small intestine.