Applicability of a short/rapid 13C-urea breath test for Helicobacter pylori: retrospective multicenter chart review study

The validity of breath collection bags method in detecting Helicobacter pylori using the novel BreathID ® Hp Lab System: a multicenter clinical study in 257 subjects

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The BreathID ® Hp urea breath test provides several advantages over other 13C breath analyzers for the detection of Helicobacter pylori. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of a new BreathID ® Hp Lab System (Exalenz Bioscience Ltd, Israel), a 13C-urea breath test system using breath sampling bags that facilitates multiple testing in a multicenter international clinical study.

METHODS

A total of 257 subjects with evaluable results for urea breath test, rapid urease test, and histology were enrolled into two study groups: 189 naïve subjects were included in the pre-therapy group, and 68 subjects comprised the post-eradication therapy group. Analytical studies were conducted to evaluate the stability, reproducibility, and repeatability of the 13C-urea breath test results using a delta over baseline cut-off value of 5.

RESULTS

Among the pre-therapy subjects evaluated with the composite results from the rapid urease test and histology/immunohistochemistry, 176 results matched those of the urea breath test, resulting in an overall agreement of 98.3% with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.9%. In the post-eradication therapy cohort, the overall agreement between the urea breath test and the biopsy diagnosis was 98.5%; the sensitivity of the urea breath test in this cohort was 92.3% and the specificity was 100%. There was uniformly high overall reproducibility (99.48%) of the test results over different batches of breath sample bags, when analyzed on different days and under different storage conditions, showing stability of the breath samples in the breath collection bags.

CONCLUSION

The BreathID ® Hp Lab System is a highly accurate and dependable method for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

Update on the Diagnosis and Management of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Adults

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection is becoming increasingly challenging due largely to the rising rates of antimicrobial resistance and to the relative complexity of treatment regimens. If a reliable test to assess the antimicrobial sensitivity/resistance of H. pylori was readily available, treatment would be more focused and-presumably-more effective. However, antimicrobial sensitivity testing is difficult to obtain in most parts of the United States. Therefore, physicians have to rely on clinical judgment in selecting treatment regimens for their infected patients. The aims of this review are to summarize recent treatment recommendations and to examine available evidence for how we might improve on our current treatment selections. Information on this review is directed primarily toward physicians practicing in the United States.

Evaluation of Exalenz Bioscience's BreathID for Helicobacter pylori detection

Carbon-labeled urea breath tests, which have high sensitivity and specificity, are the preferred method used in epidemiological studies, screening dyspeptic patients and assessing eradication or recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection. The principle of the (13)C-urea breath test relies upon the ability of the H. pylori urease to hydrolyze the orally administered (13)C-urea. The BreathID (Exalenz Bioscience Inc., Union, NJ, USA) provides a competitive solution for breath testing, including unique features such as automatic continuous breath collection and analysis. This is an unattended convenient test, with no human error as the correct part of the breath is collected and patients' assistance is not required. The test results are available in real time at the point of care and enable shortened breath testing procedures. Additionally, several studies showing expanded utility of the BreathID in pediatrics, after therapy and during proton pump inhibitors intake, further support the safety and performance of the BreathID in the diagnosis of H. pylori.

Association between cirrhosis and Helicobacter pylori infection: a meta-analysis

Cirrhosis is a severe threat to public health. Some studies have suggested that cirrhosis is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, but the results remain controversial. This meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the association between cirrhosis and H. pylori infection. Published articles on H. pylori prevalence in patients with cirrhosis were collected to assess the potential associations between H. pylori infection and cirrhosis risk. Twenty-one eligible studies were included for the analysis. Data on publication year, geographic region, and etiology were summarized. Metaregression models and subgroup analyses were established to screen the factors for heterogeneity. Of the 322 articles retrieved, 21 met the inclusion criteria. These studies involved 6135 cases, with a total H. pylori infection rate of 52.26%. This meta-analysis showed significant difference in H. pylori infection between patients with cirrhosis and controls [odd ratio (OR)=2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-3.18, P<0.0001]. The subgroup analysis revealed, in contrast to Asia (OR=0.90, 95% CI: 0.48-1.66, P<0.0001), Europe (OR=2.98, 95% CI: 2.02-4.39, P<0.0001), and America (OR=4.75, 95% CI: 1.42-15.95, P=0.249), a significantly higher prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with cirrhosis. On the basis of etiology, there was a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection due to primary biliary cirrhosis (OR=1.75, 95% CI: 1.15-2.64, P=0.147) and viral cirrhosis (OR=2.66, 95% CI: 1.24-5.71, P<0.0001) compared with alcohol cirrhosis (OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.04-16.59, P<0.0001). The pooled data suggest that there is a significantly high prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with cirrhosis. Large-scale and multicenter studies are needed to further investigate the relation between cirrhosis and H. pylori infection.

Association between Helicobacter pylori and asthma: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Helicobacter pylori infection is recognized as a worldwide public health threat. Some studies have suggested that individuals with asthma have a lower rate of H. pylori infection, but the relation remains controversial. This meta-analysis was carried out to quantify the association between H. pylori infection and asthma.

METHODS

Published information on the prevalence of H. pylori in individuals with asthma was collected to assess the potential associations between H. pylori infection and the risk of asthma. Fourteen eligible studies were selected for analysis. Data on the study populations, detection method of H. pylori, and publication year were summarized. Meta-regression models and subgroup analyses were established to screen the factors resulting in heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Of the 106 articles retrieved, 14 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The 14 studies involved 28 283 patients, with a total H. pylori infection rate of 40.53%. This meta-analysis found a significantly lower rate of H. pylori infection in the asthmatics than in the controls (odds ratio=0.84, 95% confidence interval: 0.73-0.96, P=0.013). Subgroup analysis indicated a similar infection rate of CagA-positive H. pylori infection in the asthmatic group and the control group (odds ratio=0.73, 95% confidence interval: 0.41-1.28, P=0.03).

CONCLUSION

The pooled data suggest that asthmatics have a significantly lower rate of H. pylori infection. Large-scale and multicenter studies should be carried out to further determine the relation between this bacterium and allergic disorders.

Association between Helicobacter pylori infection and diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of observational studies

AIMS

Some studies have shown Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection to be associated with diabetes mellitus, but the relationship remains controversial. This meta-analysis was designed to quantify the association between H. pylori infection and diabetes.

METHODS

A computerized search of PubMed and Embase was carried out. Studies that provided data on H. pylori infection in both diabetes and control groups were selected. An unconditional logistic regression model was used to analyze potential parameters related to H. pylori prevalence. Subgroup analyses were conducted for types of diabetes, methods of detection, geographical distribution, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and evidence grade.

RESULT

Forty-one studies were identified, involving 14,080 patients, with a total H. pylori infection rate of 42.29%. The OR for H. pylori infection was increased to 1.33 (95% CI: 1.08-1.64; P=0.008) among the patients with diabetes. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly higher infection rate of H. pylori in the type 2 diabetes group versus the control group: OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.40-2.21, P<0.00001.

CONCLUSIONS

The pooled data suggests a trend toward more frequent H. pylori infections in diabetes patients, especially in type 2 diabetes patients. As this is a meta-analysis of observational studies, more randomized controlled trials should be done in the future.

Epidemiology and diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection

Medline, PubMed and the Cochrane databases were searched on epidemiology and diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori for the period of April 2011-March 2012. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of H. pylori infection is decreasing in adults and children in many countries. Various diagnostic tests are available, and most of them have high sensitivity and specificity. The Maastricht IV/Florence consensus report states that the urea breath test using (13)C urea remains the best test to diagnose H. pylori infection. Among the stool antigen tests, the ELISA monoclonal antibody test is recommended. All these tests were used, either as a single diagnostic test or in combination, to investigate H. pylori infection among different populations throughout the world. Of particular interest, current improvements in high-resolution endoscopic technologies enable increased diagnostic accuracy for the detection of H. pylori infection, but none of these techniques, at present, are specific enough for obtaining a real-time diagnosis of H. pylori infection.