Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection is performed to completely remove H. pylori from the gastric mucosa. This is the only way to cure gastric and duodenal ulcers, and prevent the development of gastric cancer. What is the treatment of patients infected with Helicobacter pylori? Can the therapy prevent relapses and cure the infected?

Treatment of Helicobacter pyloriinfection mainly involves the use of antibiotics. The goal of antibiotic therapy is eridication, i.e. complete removal of bacteria embedded in the gastric mucosa. However, this method of treatment is only effective if you use 2 antibiotics at the same time and additionally so-called proton pump inhibitor (PPI) - an antacid drug. Thanks to the triple therapy, it is possible to effectively get rid of bacteria from the body and lead to a permanent cure of the sick. In case of ineffectiveness (which is very rare), a different set of drugs is used.

Treatment of H. pylori infection - what is eradication?

According to the latest findings of the Working Group of the Polish Society of Gastroenterology (for infectionHelicobacter pylori ), one of PPIs (any type) and two antibiotics (most often amoxicillin and metronidazole). All these drugs are taken twice a day for 7 days. In the first-line treatment, the eradication rate is around 70% and is still decreasing (previously it was 80%), mainly due to the increasing resistance of H. pylori bacteria to standard drugs (usually metronidazole or clarithromycin).

If the drugs with which the treatment started are not effective, the so-called second-line drugs, i.e. bismuth s alt, PPIs, tetracycline (4 x daily) and metronidazole (3 x 500 mg). Treatment lasts 10-14 days. This is called quadruple therapy. However, bismuth s alts are not available in Poland, therefore a triple-drug regimen containing PPIs, amoxicillin or tetracycline and metronidazole is proposed.

After successful eradication of Hp, recurrences of infection are very rare and are most often the result of re-entry of bacteria into the body (reinfection) rather than recurrence of latent infection.

Helicobacter pylori -prophylaxis

How to avoid bacterial contaminationHelicobacter pylori ? First of all, you should follow the basic rules of hygiene. ie frequently wash your hands and teeth. Caries or other dental disease that requires dental treatment is one of the factors that increase the risk of recurrence of bacterial infection.

Is there a vaccine against Helicobacter pylori?

No vaccine has yet been developed to protect against infectionHelicobacter pylori . However, scientists do not exclude the possibility of creating this type of preparation, especially since the first attempts to immunize people with antigens of these bacteria have been successful. The vaccine would make it possible to prevent both peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer.

Category:

Gastrology