"How is a gut bacterial examination conducted?"

Intestinal Bacterial Carriage Examination

Intestinal bacterial carriage examination refers to the clinical detection of intestinal flora. This detection typically encompasses routine stool examination, gastroscopy and colonoscopy, C13 or C14 breath tests, among others, as detailed below:

1. Routine Stool Examination: By examining stool smears, the types and numbers of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms present in the stool can be identified.

2. Gastroscopy and Colonoscopy: These procedures provide a detailed view of the digestive tract, enabling the timely detection of gastrointestinal ulcers, polyps, and other symptoms, which are beneficial for a comprehensive assessment of the patient's condition.

3. C13 or C14 Breath Test: Through this test, it can be determined whether a patient is infected with Helicobacter pylori, as this infection can potentially affect the number of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

After diagnosing intestinal flora imbalance, patients can be prescribed probiotics such as lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus bulgaricus, and lactobacillus lactis for regulation under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

For intestinal flora imbalance caused by Helicobacter pylori, it is recommended to undergo combined therapy with a proton pump inhibitor, bismuth preparation, and two antibiotics under medical supervision. Options for proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole and lansoprazole. For bismuth preparations, colloidal bismuth subcitrate and colloidal bismuth pectin are common choices. As for antibiotics, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and amoxicillin are among the options that can be selected.