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Hydrogen breath testing in adults: what is it and why is it performed?
Gastroenterol Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb; 32(1):19-24; quiz 25-6.GN

Abstract

A hydrogen breath test is a safe, easy-to-perform, 2-to 3-hour outpatient procedure used to identify the presence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth, evaluate carbohydrate maldigestion or malabsorption, and measure intestinal transit time. Breath sample analysis can reveal bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine by the characteristic early rise in breath hydrogen concentration (i.e., an earlier-than-expected rise at approximately 90 minutes when the substrate reaches the colon). Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are often referred for a hydrogen breath test because of symptoms of abdominal bloating, cramping, and diarrhea that are also characteristic of bacterial overgrowth. The elderly are at greater risk for nutritional compromise from untreated small intestine bacterial overgrowth than are younger patients. Treatment often consists of one or more courses of antibiotics. Most patients experience a reduction in symptoms with treatment.

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    Authors+Show Affiliations

    Lindberg DA
    Gastroenterology & Hepatology Clinic, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. deborah.a.lindberg@hitchcock.org

    MeSH

    AdultBacterial InfectionsBreath TestsFemaleHumansHydrogenIrritable Bowel SyndromeSensitivity and Specificity

    Pub Type(s)

    Case Reports
    Journal Article

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    19197185

    Citation

    Lindberg, Deborah A.. "Hydrogen Breath Testing in Adults: what Is It and Why Is It Performed?" Gastroenterology Nursing : the Official Journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, vol. 32, no. 1, 2009, pp. 19-24; quiz 25-6.
    Lindberg DA. Hydrogen breath testing in adults: what is it and why is it performed? Gastroenterol Nurs. 2009;32(1):19-24; quiz 25-6.
    Lindberg, D. A. (2009). Hydrogen breath testing in adults: what is it and why is it performed? Gastroenterology Nursing : the Official Journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 32(1), 19-24; quiz 25-6. https://doi.org/10.1097/SGA.0b013e3181965d2d
    Lindberg DA. Hydrogen Breath Testing in Adults: what Is It and Why Is It Performed. Gastroenterol Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb;32(1):19-24; quiz 25-6. PubMed PMID: 19197185.
    * Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
    TY - JOUR T1 - Hydrogen breath testing in adults: what is it and why is it performed? A1 - Lindberg,Deborah A, PY - 2009/2/7/entrez PY - 2009/2/7/pubmed PY - 2009/5/30/medline SP - 19-24; quiz 25-6 JF - Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates JO - Gastroenterol Nurs VL - 32 IS - 1 N2 - A hydrogen breath test is a safe, easy-to-perform, 2-to 3-hour outpatient procedure used to identify the presence of small intestine bacterial overgrowth, evaluate carbohydrate maldigestion or malabsorption, and measure intestinal transit time. Breath sample analysis can reveal bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine by the characteristic early rise in breath hydrogen concentration (i.e., an earlier-than-expected rise at approximately 90 minutes when the substrate reaches the colon). Patients with irritable bowel syndrome are often referred for a hydrogen breath test because of symptoms of abdominal bloating, cramping, and diarrhea that are also characteristic of bacterial overgrowth. The elderly are at greater risk for nutritional compromise from untreated small intestine bacterial overgrowth than are younger patients. Treatment often consists of one or more courses of antibiotics. Most patients experience a reduction in symptoms with treatment. SN - 1538-9766 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/19197185/Hydrogen_breath_testing_in_adults:_what_is_it_and_why_is_it_performed L2 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/SGA.0b013e3181965d2d DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -