Helicobacter pylori

Question 1

Helicobacter pylori?

Answer 1

• Helicobacter pylori is a Gram negative bacteria associated with a variety of gastrointestinal problems,
• principally peptic ulcer disease

Question 2

Associations?

Answer 2

• peptic ulcer disease (95% of duodenal ulcers, 75% of gastric ulcers)
• gastric cancer
• B cell lymphoma of MALT tissue (eradication of H pylori results causes regression in 80% of patients)
• atrophic gastritis

Question 3

Management?

Answer 3

eradication may be achieved with a 7 day course of:

• a proton pump inhibitor + amoxicillin + clarithromycin, or
• a proton pump inhibitor + metronidazole + clarithromycin

The role of H pylori in Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is unclear - there is currently no role in GORD for the eradication of H pylori