Prevalence and resistance of Helicobacter pylori in a predominantly Hispanic population.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans. The risk of acquiring H. pylori is related to socioeconomic status and living conditions early in life. Treatment regimens must consider local antibiotic resistance patterns. Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital serves a predominantly indigent population in east Los Angeles with a large number of immigrants from South and Central America. Data regarding the prevalence and resistance of H. pylori in this population is scant.

Aim: To evaluate the prevalence and resistance of H. pylori and correlate with country of origin.

Methods: All gastric biopsies were obtained by a single gastroenterologist at the hospital in a consecutive manner from patients with gastritis from 2017 to 2022 and sent to various labs for evaluation.

Results: Two hundred and sixty-six patients are born in the United States, 450, 171, 70, and 30 patients are immigrants from Mexico, Central and South America (CSA), Asia, and other countries respectively. Overall, 14.65% were found to be infected with H. pylori. Rates of infection in United States-born citizens, immigrants from Mexico, CSA, and Asia are 9.02%, 18.67%, 13.45%, and 11.43% respectively, with Mexican immigrants having a relative risk of 2.3889 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.4789-3.8588, P = 0.0004] compared to those born in United States. No correlation seen between infection and length of time immigrants were in United States. Relative risk of infection in patients with no proton pump inhibitor use within the past 30 days found to be 1.9276 (95%CI: 1.3562-2.7398, P = 0.0003). Rates of resistance for clarithromycin and levofloxacin are 21.43% and 31.11%.

Conclusion: H. pylori infection appears to be associated with low socioeconomic status and poor living conditions early in life. Clarithromycin and levofloxacin based treatment regimens should be avoided as first line therapy in this region, particularly in patients of Latin American origin.