Prospectives of Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram negative bacteria whose infection is highly prevalent among the human population and leads to gastrointestinal tract related diseases (gastric and duodenal ulcers, mucosa associated tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma). Most people with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. While this bacterium infects 50% of the world’s population, in Africa its prevalence reach as high as 80% as the infection is acquired during childhood. H. pylori eradication treatment is becoming more challenging due to increasing antimicrobial resistance. Treatment regimens are expected to overcome the increasing prevalence of resistant strains of H. pylori and achieve a >90% eradication rate. Although treatment regimens provide acceptable H. pylori eradication rates, the regimens used should contribute to future resistance of H. pylori to antimicrobials and other therapies.