Managing Helicobacter pylori Infection in the New Millennium: A Review

AbstractIt is widely accepted that most peptic ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection and that the eradication of the organism leads to enhanced ulcer healing and reduces the chance of ulcer recurrence. However H. pylori is the first bacterial infection recognized as a human carcinogen, essentially on the basis of epidemiological evidence of causality.The treatment aim of H. pylori is eradication of the bacterium from the foregut. Treatment is difficult because of the bacterium’s habitat, acquired resistance to commonly used antibiotics and side effects of the therapy.H. pylori can be eradicated with the use of some antimicrobial agents such as clarithromycin, amoxicillin or nitroimidazoles but more than one agent has to be used in combination with either a proton pump inhibitor, an H2 receptor antagonist or bismuth to achieve eradication rates of 90% or greater.This review will present current information concerning the efficacy, safety and mode of action of the various agents controlli...