H.Pylori (Helicobacter pylori) Causes, Tests and Treatment

What is H.pylori?

Helicobacter pylori or H.pylori is a gram-negative, helix/spiral shaped bacterium (plural ~ bacteria). It has multiple flagella (long tail-like projection) at one end which allows it to move through the stomach and burrow deep into the stomach lining (gastric mucosa). This bacteria has in-built mechanisms to neutralize stomach acid around it and has an affinity for gastric epithelium. H.pylori is therefore almost always found living exclusively in the stomach and to some extent in the duodenum.

Causes of H.pylori Infection

H.pylori infection of the stomach is one of the main causes of acute gastritis (stomach lining inflammation) and peptic ulcers (more often duodenal than gastric ulcers). The prevalence of H.pylori infection in adults is significantly high but most cases are asymptomatic (no symptoms). This could be due to  the absence of individual risk factors, the strain of the H.pylori involved or other unknown factors.

Pathophysiology of H.pylori

H.pylori burrows deep into the mucosal lining until it finds and attaches to the antigens on the surface of epithelial cells. The bacteria produces large amounts of urease, an enzyme that can break down urea in the stomach. By breaking down the urea, it produces ammonia which forms a ‘cloud’ around the bacterium. This raises the pH (acid-base level) making the immediate environment less acidic thereby protecting the bacterium from the corrosive stomach acid.

Apart from counteracting the stomach acid and exposing the underlying layers of the stomach to the acid, H.pylori can also cause localized inflammation within the stomach wall, release proteins that causes cell death, inhibit immune activity and affect the secretion of hormones from the stomach wall (gastrin and somastatin). H.pylori acts on G cells to increase the secretion of gastrin (hypergastrinemia) which will then increase the production and secretion of stomach acid (stomach acid hypersecretion).

How is H.pylori spread?

Transmission of H.pylori

H.pylori is more often spread by person-to-person contact.

The most common way it is spread is through oral-to-oral contact (stomach contents from one person’s mouth to another). Kissing or sharing food is one method of transmission especially if there is gastric refluxate or remnants of vomit in the mouth. Less frequently, saliva may be a medium of transmission. This may explain the incidence of H.pylori infection in families, between parent-child and siblings.

The other method is the fecal-to-oral (stool to mouth). This may involve contaminated food or water and could account for the very high incidence of H.pylori infection in the adult populations of developing nations (unclean water sources).

Diagnosis of Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Before commencing with treatment, Helicobacter pylori infection needs to be confirmed by one or more of the following tests :

  • stool antigen test
  • urea breath test
  • serologic assay (blood test)

The aim of treatment is to eradicate the H.pylori infection and allow for the stomach lining to heal to a sufficient extent where the structural integrity can be restored and the natural defenses can prevent a re-infection of the area.

H.Pylori Eradication

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium and therefore an antibiotic is necessary to eradicate it. However, the H.pylori species has become fairly resistant to antibiotics and two or more antibiotics may need to be used simultaneously. In addition, a drug to reduce acid production will assist with easing the irritation to the stomach lining (gastritis) caused by the stomach acid. This will allow for the inflamed lining or ulcer to heal. The decrease or disappearance of gastritis symptoms after treatment indicates a successful eradication. This can be confirmed with H.pylori status testing after therapy especially in a case of  persistent or recurrent symptoms after therapy.

Triple Therapy for H.Pylori Infection

The first line of treatment that is widely used these says is a triple therapy regimen where 3 drugs are used simultaneously. The types of drugs used are as follows :

  • One proton pump inhibitor (PPI like lansoprazole or omeprazole)  or a bismuth-based drug (like bismuth subsalicylate or rantidine bismuth citrate)
  • Two antibiotics simultaneously like clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole and tetracycline.

The combination of these drugs are prescribed as follows :

  • OAC : omeprazole + amoxicillin + clarithromycin
  • BMT : bismuth subsalicylate+ metronidazole + tetracycline
  • LAC : lansoprazole + amoxicillin + clarithromycin

This treatment usually lasts for 10 to 14 days, although 7 days may be sufficient – this is dependent on regional factors. Following the triple therapy, acid suppressive therapy will be continued for 4 to 12 weeks.

Quadruple Therapy

If triple therapy fails, then quadruple therapy (using 4 drugs) is then advisable. This is the second line of treatment for H.pylori gastritis.  Acid suppressive therapy may then be followed up for 4 to 12 weeks. The chances of adverse effects are greater with quadruple therapy and it generally has poor patient compliance (meaning that many patients do not see through the entire treatment regimen or take it as prescribed).

Quadruple therapy for H.pylori eradication may include a PPI, bismuth-based drug and two antibiotics used simultaneously. H2-blockers may be included on a daily basis.

Treatment for Other Infectious Gastritis

  • Fungal Gastritis
  • The treatment for gastritis caused by Candida albicans or disseminated histoplasmosis may include the use of drugs like itraconazole, fluconazole, or amphotericin B.
  • Tuberculous Gastritis
  • The treatment of tuberculous gastritis consists of daily pyrazinamide, rifampin, and isoniazid for 2 months, followed by 4 months of daily isoniazid and rifampin.
  • CMV Gastritis (Phlegmonous Gastritis)
  • Medical management with antiviral therapy for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is not very effective. Surgical resection of the affected area of the stomach is considered as the most effective treatment.

References

  1. Helicobacter pylori infection. Medscape

Last updated on September 7, 2018.

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