Cefixime for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Objective: To verify whether cefixime is suitable for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in monotherapy. Design: Prospective, two-centre study with open randomization in two antisecretory treatment schedules. Patients: Duodenal ulcer patients with an endoscopically documented active lesion. Intervention: All patients received antisecretory treatment (either ranitidine 300 mg twice daily or ranitidine 300 mg three times daily) for 31 days (3 weeks ± 10 days) plus cefixime 400 mg four times daily during the last 10 days. Histology, rapid urease test and culture were used to diagnose H. pylori infection. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed at the beginning of the study, 31 -35 days after starting treatment and 1 month after stopping treatment