H. Pylori infection in non-ulcer patients - To treat or not to treat. The case against treatment

Abstract

Heretofore regarded as a strict pathogen, recent identification of multiple mutants of H. pylori, varying in pathogenicity, genomic composition, antigenic structure and other characteristics, has led to speculation that not all strains of the organism merit elimination. Affecting half the world's population, H. pylori appears to cause clinically significant disease in <20% of cases. The costs of eradicating harmless infection in over 2 billion people are prohibitive, particularly in countries lacking resources, and are questionable even in advanced countries where infection, gastritis and related diseases are declining as social conditions improve. Major controversies surround empiric eradication of helicobacter infection in patients with asymptomatic gastritis or non-specific dyspepsia. Apart from cost, and feasibility, there are concerns that widespread campaigns to eradicate H. pylori might cause major increases in esophageal reflux disease and esophageal adenocarcinoma, while causing some serious iatrogenic illness and increasing antibiotic resistance, with uncertain consequences to affected populations.