AUTO-BREWERY SYNDROME

Course overview

AUTO-BREWERY SYNDROME OR GUT FERMENTATION SYNDROME IS A CONDITION IN WHICH ETHANOL IS PRODUCED THROUGH ENDOGENOUS FERMENTATION BY FUNGI OR BACTERIA IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL (GI) SYSTEM. PATIENTS WITH AUTO-BREWERY SYNDROME PRESENT WITH MANY OF THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATION WHILE DENYING THE INTAKE OF ALCOHOL AND OFTEN REPORT A HIGH-SUGAR, HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE DIET. SEVERAL STRAINS OF FERMENTING YEASTS AND RARE BACTERIA ARE IDENTIFIED AS THE PATHOGENS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF AUTO-BREWERY SYNDROME AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT.