Elliott et al (Gut 2005;54:1818–19) presented an interesting and clinically useful finding of successful treatment of a patient with severe Crohn’s disease and circumferential narrowing of the ileocolonic anastomosis with 750 mg ciprofloxacin plus 400 mg metronidazole daily for almost three years, resulting in complete healing and opening up of the stenosed anastomosis.

The authors list a number of bacterial species known to be susceptible to these antibiotics. However, they have omitted perhaps the most important potential pathogen, Mycobacterium avium ss …