Pathogen and Testing Profiles in Post-Infectious Irritable Bowel Syndrome Across the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Retrospective Case Series

Background/Objectives: The COVID-19 public health emergency altered enteric infection surveillance, diagnostic testing, and antibiotic prescribing. We compared pathogen/testing composition among post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) cases stratified by whether index gastroenteritis occurred before, during, or after the emergency.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective case series included 138 adults with clinician-diagnosed PI-IBS classified as Rome IV-compatible by chart adjudication. Index gastroenteritis occurred from January 2019 to December 2024; existing clinical records were reviewed retrospectively. The primary comparison was a five-category pathogen/testing profile.