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Background  Small‐intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is known to be present in patients with cirrhosis, predisposing to various complications.

Aim  To determine the frequency of SIBO in cirrhotics and correlate with severity of cirrhosis.

Methods  Small‐intestinal bacterial overgrowth was determined by glucose–hydrogen breath test (GHBT). A basal breath‐hydrogen >20 ppm or a rise by ≥12 ppm above baseline following glucose administration was taken as positive test. Prevalence of SIBO in cirrhotics was compared with healthy controls and correlated with severity of cirrhosis.

Results  Of the 53 cirrhotics, 26 (49%) had SIBO, compared to one (8%) control (P = 0.010). The prevalence of SIBO increased with severity of cirrhosis (Child–Pugh A 20%, B 52% and C 73%; P = 0.013). On multivariate analysis, SIBO was independently associated with serum bilirubin and ascites. The best cut‐off of serum …