Gastric bacterial colonization in diabetes mellitus

Abstract EN

To study gastric bacterial growth among diabctics, this study has been conductcd on 60 diabetics (17 type I and 43 type II) of whom 29 males and 31 were females.

Thirty healthy subjects matched for age and sex were included as controls.

Tim results showed a highly significant bacterial growth, including a group of aerobic gram-negative bacilli and one culture of gram -positive streptococci, in gastric aspirates from diabetics (31.7%) compared to controls (0%) (p<0.001).

Helicobacter (Campylobacter) pylori were absent in gastric aspirates from both patients and controls, however, they were found in gastric biopsies from both groups.

The mean gastric pi I was significantly higher in diabctics (2.95 ±1.42) compared to controls (1.8410.50) (p<0.001).

All patients with gastric colonization had gastric pH more than 3 (except only one case).

The total gastric emptying time was found to be significantly delayed in 10% of diabetics.

All diabctics who had delayed gastric emptying, also had positive gastric bacterial growth.

Chronic inflammatory and atrophic changes of gastric mucosa were found to be of higher incidence in diabetics (65%) compared to controls (26.7%).

All biopsies taken from cases having gastric colonization, showed the presence of chronic inflammatory or atrophic changes.

It was noticed that gastric acidity, emptying time, and mucosal changes were not affected by the type of diabetes, fwwever, they were worsened by the long duration of disease, presence of autonomic neuropathy, and lack of proper control of the diabetic state.

It is concluded that low gastric acidity, delayed gastric emptying, and gastric mucosal changes occurring among diabetics, might encourage abnormal bacterial growth in their stomach.