Eradication of helicobacter pylori. The response to triple standard therapy in a center of north-eastern romania

Abstract

Nowadays, the prevalence of antibiotic resistance increases worldwide while the efficacy of standard therapy for H. pylori infection eradication decreases. Therefore, there is an immense need to investigate the best therapeutic options to avoid resistance and to obtain complete eradication of the bacteria. Considering the few data on clarithromycin (the most used antibiotic in H. pylori infections) resistance in Romania, this study evaluates the response to standard H. pylori eradication therapy in the north-eastern region of Romania and, through this, an assessment of clarithromycin resistance in this area. One hundred and thirty patients with proven H. pylori infection by the stool antigen test were included in the study. All patients received standard eradication therapy: proton pump inhibitor – amoxicillin-clarithromycin according to the Maastricht V consensus. Assessment of H. pylori infection eradication was performed using the stool antigen test two months after the therapy ended. The eradication of H. pylori infection was found in 90 patients (79.7%). The low eradication rate raises the suspicion of resistance to clarithromycin in the North-Eastern region of Romania.