Helicobacter pylori Infection at Crossroads between Specialties.

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is one of the major current public health problems, its incidence being high worldwide. This condition is associated with other pathologies such as peptic ulcer or gastric cancer, causing a real challenge for specialists in the medical field. Methods:We conducted a retrospective study that includes a cohort of 275 patients who performed EGD and were tested for the presence of H. pylori by the stool antigen test, between July 2022 and December 2023. Results:The cohort had an average age of 62.79 ± 13.8 years old, with a male predominance 156 patients (56.7%) and the most frequent lesion is antral gastritis (149 cases, 54.2%). Gastric ulcer in those with positive tests in H. pylori had a double incidence compared to those in which the infection is not present (19.7% vs. 9.2%, p=0.012). Conclusions:: H. pylori infection still remains a condition that can be complicated by various pathological conditions that can evolve from a slight erosion of the gastric mucosa to digestive neoplasia that require complex multidisciplinary treatments, which is why understanding the mechanisms and applying therapeutic resources as soon as possible is essential.