Helicobacter pylori second-line rescue therapy with levofloxacin- and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, after failure of standard triple or non-bismuth quadruple treatments

A prospective evaluation of levofloxacin-based triple therapy for refractory Helicobacter pylori infection in Australia

BACKGROUND

First-line Helicobacter pylori eradication failure is a common and challenging problem.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of salvage levofloxacin-based triple therapy in Australia.

METHODS

Prospective patients referred after prior treatment failure(s) were prescribed esomeprazole 40 mg, amoxicillin 1 g and levofloxacin 500 mg each twice daily for 10 days. All patients received detailed written and verbal adherence support. Outcome assessment was by 13 C-urea breath test and/or histology and urease test.

RESULTS

In 150 consecutive, evaluable patients (66% female, mean age 54 ± 14 years; six smokers), the main indications for treatment were peptic ulcer disease (17%), increased gastric cancer risk (20%), symptoms (35%) and other risk reduction (28%). The median number of previous treatments was 2 (range 1-7). Eradication of H. pylori was achieved in 90% (intention to treat (ITT)) and 91% (per-protocol (PP)) of patients. The eradication rate did not differ according to the type or number of prior treatments: 93% when ≤2 (n = 107) compared with 84% after three or more prior treatments (n = 43; P = 0.13) or with age, ethnicity or indication for treatment but it was higher in females (ITT 94 vs 82%, P = 0.04). Adherence was excellent (95%). No serious adverse effects were observed; mild adverse effects were reported in 11%. No primary levofloxacin resistance was observed in 20 concurrent cases.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy and safety of this levofloxacin-based triple therapy suggests it should be used as a salvage regimen in this region. Randomised comparative trials are unlikely to be done but these data compare favourably with local data for other salvage therapies.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection-the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Report

Important progress has been made in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection and in this fifth edition of the Maastricht Consensus Report, key aspects related to the clinical role of H. pylori were re-evaluated in 2015. In the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Conference, 43 experts from 24 countries examined new data related to H. pylori in five subdivided workshops: (1) Indications/Associations, (2) Diagnosis, (3) Treatment, (4) Prevention/Public Health, (5) H. pylori and the Gastric Microbiota. The results of the individual workshops were presented to a final consensus voting that included all participants. Recommendations are provided on the basis of the best available evidence and relevance to the management of H. pylori infection in the various clinical scenarios.

IV Spanish Consensus Conference on Helicobacter pylori infection treatment

Helicobacter pylori approximately infect 50% of Spanish population and causes chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. Until now, three consensus meetings on H.pylori infection had been performed in Spain (the last in 2012). The changes in the treatment schemes, and the increasing available evidence, have justified organizing the IVSpanish Consensus Conference (March 2016), focused on the treatment of this infection. Nineteen experts participated, who performed a systematic review of the scientific evidence and developed a series of recommendation that were subjected to an anonymous Delphi process of iterative voting. Scientific evidence and the strength of the recommendation were classified using GRADE guidelines. As starting point, this consensus increased the minimum acceptable efficacy of recommended treatments that should reach, or preferably surpass, the 90% cure rate when prescribed empirically. Therefore, only quadruple therapies (with or without bismuth), and generally lasting 14 days, are recommended both for first and second line treatments. Non-bismuth quadruple concomitant regimen, including a proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and metronidazole, is recommended as first line. In the present consensus, other first line alternatives and rescue treatments are also reviewed and recommended.

Rabeprazole, Minocycline, Amoxicillin, and Bismuth as First-Line and Second-Line Regimens for Helicobacter pylori Eradication

BACKGROUND

Because of general unavailability of tetracycline, common adverse effects, and complicated administration, the clinical application of bismuth quadruple therapy often faces difficulties. Whether the combination of minocycline and amoxicillin can replace tetracycline and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori eradication remains unclear. This study was to determine the efficacy, compliance, and safety of rabeprazole, minocycline, amoxicillin, and bismuth (RMAB) therapy as first-line and second-line regimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between July 2013 and December 2015, a total of 160 patients in first-line and 70 patients in second-line therapies received rabeprazole 10 mg, minocycline 100 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg twice daily for 14 days. Eradication status was assessed 6-12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

RMAB therapy achieved the eradication rates of 87.5% (95% confidence interval, 81.9-92.5%, intention-to-treat analysis), 90.9% (85.7-95.5%, modified intention-to-treat analysis), and 92.6% (88.5-96.6%, per-protocol analysis) in first-line therapy in a setting with high antibiotic resistance rates (amoxicillin 3.4%, clarithromycin 39.7%, metronidazole 60.3%, levofloxacin 36.2%, tetracycline 3.4%, and minocycline 6.9%). As for second-line therapy, the eradication rates were 82.9% (74.3-91.4%, intention-to-treat analysis), 86.6% (77.6-94.0%, modified intention-to-treat analysis), and 89.1% (81.3-95.3%, per-protocol analysis). Totally, 24.0% patients had adverse effects, 2.2% discontinued medications, and good compliance was achieved in 94.7%. Poor compliance and minocycline resistance were identified as the risk factors for treatment failure. Significant differences in efficacy existed among the groups of both sensitive (48/51 and 18/20), isolated amoxicillin resistance (1/1 and 0/0), isolated minocycline resistance (2/3 and 1/1), and dual resistance (0/1 and 0/1) in both first-line (p = .004) and second-line (p = .035) therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

The eradication efficacies of RMAB therapy as first-line and second-line regimens were satisfactory with good compliance and safety in a region with high antibiotic resistance.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection 2016

Many interesting articles have been published from different parts of the world over the last year assessing various issues around Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. This article will address the published literature over the last year pertaining to the topic of treatment of H. pylori infection. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first-line treatments, mainly optimized nonbismuth-containing and bismuth-containing quadruple therapies with some promising data also emerging on dual therapy. There was also considerable progress in investigating antibiotic resistance rates with much more data emerging from varied parts of the world compared to recent years. Advances in the use of adjunctive therapies, especially probiotic therapies have also been made. Undoubtedly, the eradication of H. pylori remains a worthwhile goal to alleviate the burden of diseases caused by the complications of this infection, including dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: the efficacy of levofloxacin triple therapy as the first- or second-line treatments of Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Levofloxacin triple therapy has been used for the first-line and second-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection for more than 10 years.

AIMS

To systematically review the efficacy of levofloxacin triple therapy in the first- and second-line treatment, and to assess the time trend and factors that might affect its efficacy.

METHODS

Prospective trials reporting the efficacy of levofloxacin triple therapy in either the first-line or second-line treatment of H. pylori infection in adults were searched from the PubMed and Cochrane database from January 2000 to September 2015. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate the cumulative eradication rate and the efficacies in subgroups.

RESULTS

Of the 322 articles identified, a total of 4574 patients from 41 trials, including 16 trials in the first-line treatment and 25 trials in the second-line treatment were eligible for analysis. The cumulative eradication rate was 77.3% (95% confidence intervals, CI: 74.7-79.6) and was 80.7% (95% CI 77.1-83.7) in the first-line treatment and 74.5% (95% CI: 70.9-77.8) in the second-line treatment. The efficacies of levofloxacin triple therapy before 2008, between 2009 and 2011, and after 2012 were 77.4%, 79.6% and 74.8% respectively. The eradication rate was higher when levofloxacin was given once daily (80.6%, 95% CI: 77.1-83.7) than twice daily (73.6%, 95% CI: 69.7-77.2). The efficacy was significantly higher in levofloxacin-susceptible strains than resistant strains (81.1% vs. 36.3%, risk ratio 2.18, 95% CI: 1.6-3, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of levofloxacin triple therapy has been lower than 80% in many countries and it is not recommended when the levofloxacin resistance is higher than 5-10%.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori infects about 50 % of the world's population, causing at a minimum chronic gastritis. A subset of infected patients will ultimately develop gastric or duodenal ulcer disease, gastric adenocarcinoma, or MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma. Eradication of H. pylori requires complex regimens that include acid suppression and multiple antibiotics. The efficacy of treatment using what were once considered standard regimens have declined in recent years, mainly due to widespread development of antibiotic resistance. Addition of bismuth to standard triple therapy regimens, use of alternate antibiotics, or development of alternative regimens using known therapies in novel combinations have improved treatment efficacy in specific populations, but overall success of eradication remains less than ideal. Novel regimens under investigation either in vivo or in vitro, involving increased acid suppression ideally with fewer antibiotics or development of non-antibiotic treatment targets, show promise for future therapy.

The Toronto Consensus for the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Adults

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Helicobacter pylori infection is increasingly difficult to treat. The purpose of these consensus statements is to provide a review of the literature and specific, updated recommendations for eradication therapy in adults.

METHODS

A systematic literature search identified studies on H pylori treatment. The quality of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Statements were developed through an online platform, finalized, and voted on by an international working group of specialists chosen by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology.

RESULTS

Because of increasing failure of therapy, the consensus group strongly recommends that all H pylori eradication regimens now be given for 14 days. Recommended first-line strategies include concomitant nonbismuth quadruple therapy (proton pump inhibitor [PPI] + amoxicillin + metronidazole + clarithromycin [PAMC]) and traditional bismuth quadruple therapy (PPI + bismuth + metronidazole + tetracycline [PBMT]). PPI triple therapy (PPI + clarithromycin + either amoxicillin or metronidazole) is restricted to areas with known low clarithromycin resistance or high eradication success with these regimens. Recommended rescue therapies include PBMT and levofloxacin-containing therapy (PPI + amoxicillin + levofloxacin). Rifabutin regimens should be restricted to patients who have failed to respond to at least 3 prior options.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal treatment of H pylori infection requires careful attention to local antibiotic resistance and eradication patterns. The quadruple therapies PAMC or PBMT should play a more prominent role in eradication of H pylori infection, and all treatments should be given for 14 days.

Targeting bacterial topoisomerases: how to counter mechanisms of resistance

DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are type IIA bacterial topoisomerases that are targeted by highly effective antibiotics. However, resistance via multiple mechanisms arises to limit the efficacies of these drugs. Continued research on type IIA bacterial topoisomerases has provided novel approaches to counter the most common resistance mechanism for utilization of these proven targets in antibacterial therapy. Bacterial topoisomerase I is being explored as an alternative target that is not expected to show cross-resistance. Dual targeting or combination therapy could be strategies for circumventing the development of resistance to topoisomerase-targeting antibiotics. Bacterial topoisomerases are high-value bactericidal targets that could continue to be exploited for antibacterial therapy, if new tactics to counter resistance can be adopted.

Role of bismuth in improving Helicobacter pylori eradication with triple therapy

In most regions of the world, antimicrobial resistance has increased to the point where empirical standard triple therapy for Helicobacter pylorieradication is no longer recommended. The treatment outcome in a population is calculated as the sum of the treatment success in the subpopulation with susceptible infections plus treatment success in the subpopulation with resistant infections. The addition of bismuth (i.e., 14-day triple therapy plus bismuth) can improve cure rates despite a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The major bismuth effect is to add an additional 30%-40% to the success with resistant infections. The overall result is therefore dependent on the prevalence of resistance and the treatment success in the subpopulation with resistant infections (eg, with proton-pump inhibitor-amoxicillin dual therapy). Here, we explore the contribution of each component and the mechanisms of how bismuth might enhance the effectiveness of triple therapy. We also discuss the limitations of this approach and provide suggestions how triple therapy plus bismuth might be further improved.

Levofloxacin, bismuth, amoxicillin and esomeprazole as second-line Helicobacter pylori therapy after failure of non-bismuth quadruple therapy

BACKGROUND

The best rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection following failure of non-bismuth quadruple therapy (NBQT) remains unanswered.

AIMS

To determine the efficacy, safety and compliance of levofloxacin, bismuth, amoxicillin and esomeprazole (LBAE) regimen following failure of NBQT.

METHODS

132 patients with H. pylori infection refractory to first-line NBQT received LBAE regimen (levofloxacin 500mg once/day, bismuth potassium citrate 220mg twice/day, amoxicillin 1000mg twice/day and esomeprazole 20mg twice/day for 14 days). Gastric mucosal biopsy was obtained for H. pylori culture, antimicrobial sensitivity test and cytochrome P450 isoenzyme 2C19 polymorphism analysis.

RESULTS

LBAE therapy achieved eradication rates of 73.5% [95% confidence intervals (CI) 65.9-81.1%] in intention-to-treat and 78.5% (71.1-85.9%) in per-protocol analyses in patients with high antibiotic resistance (amoxicillin 8.3%, clarithromycin 55.6%, metronidazole 73.6% and levofloxacin 36.1%). Adverse effects were found in 19.2% and compliance in 96.1% of the treated patients. Multivariate analyses identified levofloxacin resistance [odds ratio (OR) 7.183, 95% CI 1.616-31.914, P=0.010] and history of quinolone intake (4.844, 1.174-19.983, P=0.029) as independent predictors of treatment failure. The eradication rate of patients with dual amoxicillin and levofloxacin resistance was significantly decreased (33.3%, P=0.006).

CONCLUSIONS

In populations with high levofloxacin resistance, 14-day second-line LBAE regimen resulted in an unsatisfactory efficacy in patients resistant to NBQT despite good safety and compliance.

Esomeprazole, minocycline, metronidazole and bismuth as first-line and second-line regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication

OBJECTIVE

Whether minocycline can replace tetracycline in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy, safety, patient compliance and risk factors of a combination regimen of esomeprazole, minocycline, metronidazole and bismuth (EMMB) for H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

In this prospective single-center study, 152 patients in the first-line therapy group and 64 in the second-line therapy group received EMMB therapy (esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily, minocycline 100 mg twice daily, metronidazole 400 mg four times daily and bismuth potassium citrate 110 mg four times daily) for 14 days. The eradication outcome was assessed by (13) C-urea breath test 6-12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

EMMB therapy achieved eradication rates of 85.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) 79.6-91.4%] using intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, 90.3% (95% CI 84.7-95.1%) using modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis and 92.6% (95% CI 88.1-96.3%) using per-protocol (PP) analysis as the first-line therapy; and 82.8% (95% CI 71.9-90.6%), 86.9% (95% CI 77.1-95.1%) and 89.5% (95% CI 80.7-96.5%) as the second-line therapy, respectively. In the first-line group, 35.6% of the patients experienced adverse effects, 4.7% discontinued medications because of adverse effects and good compliance was achieved in 91.3%, while the results were 36.5%, 3.2% and 90.5% in the second-line therapy group. Poor compliance was identified as an independent predictor of treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of EMMB therapy for H. pylori eradication as first-line and second-line regimens in a region with high rates of antibiotic resistance is satisfactory with relatively good patient compliance and high safety.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: Current and future insights

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma worldwide. H. pylori treatment still remains a challenge, since many determinants for successful therapy are involved such as individual primary or secondary antibiotics resistance, mucosal drug concentration, patient compliance, side-effect profile and cost. While no new drug has been developed, current therapy still relies on different mixture of known antibiotics and anti-secretory agents. A standard triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor proposed as the first-line regimen. Bismuth-containing quadruple treatment, sequential treatment or a non-bismuth quadruple treatment (concomitant) are also an alternative therapy. Levofloxacin containing triple treatment are recommended as rescue treatment for infection of H. pylori after defeat of first-line therapy. The rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance reduces the effectiveness of any regimens involving these remedies. Therefore, adding probiotic to the medications, developing anti-H. pylori photodynamic or phytomedicine therapy, and achieving a successful H. pylori vaccine may have the promising to present synergistic or additive consequence against H. pylori, because each of them exert different effects.

Systematic review and meta-analysis: Multi-strain probiotics as adjunct therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication and prevention of adverse events

BACKGROUND

Eradication rates with triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori infections have currently declined to unacceptable levels worldwide. Newer quadruple therapies are burdened with a high rate of adverse events. Whether multi-strain probiotics can improve eradication rates or diminish adverse events remains uncertain.

METHODS

Relevant publications in which patients with H. pylori infections were randomized to a multi-strain probiotic or control were identified in PubMed, Cochrane Databases, and other sources from 1 January 1960-3 June 2015. Primary outcomes included eradication rates, incidence of any adverse event and the incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. As probiotic efficacy is strain-specific, pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using meta-analysis stratified by similar multi-strain probiotic mixtures.

RESULTS

A total of 19 randomized controlled trials (20 treatment arms, n = 2730) assessing one of six mixtures of strains of probiotics were included. Four multi-strain probiotics significantly improved H. pylori eradication rates, five significantly prevented any adverse reactions and three significantly reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Only two probiotic mixtures (Lactobacillus acidophilus/Bifidobacterium animalis and an eight-strain mixture) had significant efficacy for all three outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis found adjunctive use of some multi-strain probiotics may improve H. pylori eradication rates and prevent the development of adverse events and antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but not all mixtures were effective.

Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori infection: optimization strategies in a high resistance era

INTRODUCTION

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is paramount for the management of prevalent gastrointestinal disorders and in the prevention of gastric cancer. Due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, performance of standard triple therapies has now declined to unacceptably low levels.

AREAS COVERED

In this article: i) we critically revise optimization tools aiming to improve the outcome of standard treatments; ii) we provide updated evidence on the efficacy and rationale for the use of several non-bismuth quadruple regimens in clinical practice, recommended as preferred empirical therapies in areas of high clarithromycin resistance.

EXPERT OPINION

Prolonged (14-day) treatment duration may boost the efficacy of standard triple therapy by approximately 5%. Use of a high-dose PPI and/or new-generation PPIs, rabeprazole and esomeprazole, might improve eradication rates, particularly in regions where the CYP2C19 rapid metabolizer phenotype is prevalent. Adjunctive probiotics may be considered to improve treatment tolerability, though more data are required to better define their role in H. pylori eradication. Among non-bismuth quadruple regimens, both concomitant and sequential therapies are appropriate options for high-resistance settings; however, concomitant therapy appears to be less impaired by dual clarithromycin/metronidazole resistance. Hybrid therapy is a promising new alternative which seems not to be inferior to concomitant therapy.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection 2015

Many interesting articles have been published from many parts of the world over the last year assessing different issues around Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. This article will address the published literature over the last year pertaining to the topic of treatment of H. pylori infection. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first-line treatments, mainly optimized nonbismuth- and bismuth-containing quadruple therapies with some promising data also emerging on dual therapy. There was also considerable progress in investigating antibiotic resistance rates with much more data emerging from varied parts of the world compared to recent years. There have also been advances in the use of adjunctive therapies, especially probiotic therapies. Undoubtedly, the eradication of H. pylori remains a worthwhile goal to alleviate the burden of diseases caused by the complications of this infection, including dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer.