FAECAL AND JEJUNAL BACTERIAL FLORA IN IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME WITH INCOMPETENT ILEOCAECAL VALVE By * ** Mohamed A. Moussa MD , Laila A. Soliman MD ,, Nabil A. Khattab MD, Yehia Saddik MD, Mohamed Salem MD, Alaa Ibrahim MD, and Mohamed Shawki MD From Departments of Internal Medicine Ain Shams, Benha Faculties of Medicine and Bacteriology Department Ain Shams Faculty of ** Medicine ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to study the jejunal and faecal flora in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients with and without ileocaecal valve incompetence to assess the qualitative and quantitative incidence of different bacterial species both aerobically and anaerobically. This study was carried on 25 IBS patients with incompetent ileocaecal valve and another 25 patients with competent valve. Bacteriological examination of the jejunal aspirates and faecal samples of both groups, showed raised figures as regards all types and species of organisms studied. Irritable bowel syndrome patients with ileocaecal valve incompetence showed higher significant bacteriological counts, especially in jejunal aspirates. The pattern of abnormal jejunal flora detected in patients with incompetent valve pointed to colonic origin. Therefore such IBS patients with ileocaecal valve incompetence may get benefit from some bacteriostatic agents especially those affecting the anaerobes in a trial to correct the associated floral alterations and overgrowth together with motility modifying drugs as domperidone.