Intestinal Spirochetosis: To Treat or Not to Treat

Abstract

Spirochete colonization of the gastrointestinal tract is a poorly understood phenomenon presenting with varying signs and symptoms. Due to the lack of a unified approach and its varying presentations, the management decision for intestinal spirochetosis (IS) has always been challenging. While metronidazole is the commonly preferred antimicrobial treatment, it remains unclear if therapeutic intervention is indicated for everyone, especially asymptomatic patients. We present three patients, diagnosed with IS. They presented with varying demographics, clinical presentations, and past medical histories and underwent different clinical managements. Our decisions for treatment not only included presenting symptoms but also factors like history of pre-existing gastrointestinal diseases, age, and immune status.