Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in HIV-infected, HAART-naïve Ugandan children: a hospital-based survey

Prevalence and associated risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, lymphoma, and gastric cancer in humans. The prevalence and factors associated with H. pylori infection are varied across countries. Thus, a comprehensive review has not been done on prevalence and associated factors in East Africa. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify factors associated with H. pylori infection in East Africa.

METHODS

Articles written in English language were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct. Relevant articles were selected and screened using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Publication bias was assessed qualitatively and qualitatively using funnel plot symmetry and Egger's test, respectively. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 measure. Data were analyzed using Stata software, version 14, and the "metan" command.

RESULTS

A total of 231 articles were retrieved from nineteen countries in East Africa. Of these, 70 articles were eligible for the review. The pooled prevalence of H. pylori in East Africa was 50.98% (95% CI: 45.05-56.90). The prevalence of H. pylori infection ranged from 7.7 to 94.5% in East African countries. The highest pooled prevalence was from Sudan (61.3%, 95% CI: 52.6-69.9), and the lowest prevalence was reported from Uganda (40.7%, 95% CI: 33-48.3). Persons with no formal education (OR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.22-2.83), lack of hand washing habit after toilet (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.45-3.02), having a history of dyspepsia (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.31-3.18), living in rural areas (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 0.38-3.23), and having unclean water source (OR = 1.5; 95% CI:0.45-3.45) were all associated with higher risk for H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSION

More than half of the populations of East African countries were positive for H. pylori infection. Rural residence, source of water, and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with H. pylori infection. Therefore, healthcare workers could provide health education on the aforementioned risk factors, and the government and other stakeholders could improve the source of drinking water in East Africa.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in a tertiary care hospital in Busan, South Korea

INTRODUCTION

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection management has recently become more successful. While the life expectancy of HIV-infected patients increased, the prevalence of non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining cancers, such as gastric cancer, also increased. Helicobacter pylori is associated with gastric cancer, the most common cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in South Korea, which has the highest incidence of chronic gastric mucosa inflammation. Here, the seroprevalence and risk factors of H. pylori infection in Korean HIV-infected patients were evaluated.

METHODS

Three hundred HIV-infected patients attending the Outpatient Department of Pusan National University Hospital were prospectively enrolled from October 2018 to February 2019. Socio-demographic information was evaluated using questionnaires, and the serological status of H. pylori infection was analyzed for anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies.

RESULTS

The overall seropositivity of H. pylori was 32.7%, and 254 patients (84.7%) were male. The risk factors significantly associated with H. pylori seropositivity were: age of 40-49 years (odds ratio [OR] = 5.00; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30-19.17), age of 50-59 years (OR = 3.93; 95% CI 1.05-14.73), CD4 cell counts of 350-500/μL (OR = 4.23; 95% CI 1.53-11.65), CD4 cell counts ≥500/μL (OR = 2.78; 95% CI 1.15-6.72), and a weekly average alcohol consumption of at least one alcoholic beverage (OR = 1.78; 95% CI 1.05-2.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The seroprevalence of H. pylori is significantly associated with alcohol consumption, high CD4 cell count, and the age group of 40-59 years.

Gastrointestinal Diseases in Children Living with HIV

Thanks to the advances in antiretroviral therapies (ART) and early diagnosis, pediatric HIV has turned into a chronic infection that requires the collaboration of all pediatric subspecialists for holistic patient management. Gastrointestinal complaints are a frequent reason for seeking access to medical care in all pediatric patients worldwide. Intestinal involvement is present in virtually all children with HIV infections. In high-prevalence settings, up to 25% of children accessing the hospital for diarrhea are diagnosed with HIV. More than half of patients with advanced disease present with gastrointestinal symptoms, from mild infectious diarrhea to severe gastrointestinal impairment, malabsorption and failure to thrive. Gastrointestinal disorders do not spare children on ART, particularly in the initial months of therapy. ART-associated pancreatitis and hepatitis are rare but potentially severe adverse events, whereas lower abdominal symptoms have been reported in more than a third of patients. The latter are usually mild and transient, but may limit ART adherence; a correct framing of the problem is necessary to minimize therapy switches while optimizing the quality of life of children on ART. This review aims to provide state-of-the-art guidance for the initial approach to gastrointestinal diseases in children living with HIV.

The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences (UZ-CHS) BIRTH COHORT study: rationale, design and methods

BACKGROUND

Commencing lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) immediately following HIV diagnosis (Option B+), has greatly improved maternal-infant health. Thus, large and increasing numbers of HIV-infected women are on ART during pregnancy, a situation concurrently increasing numbers of HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) infants. Compared to their HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) counterparts, HEU infants show higher rates of adverse birth outcomes, mortality, infectious/non-communicable diseases including impaired growth and neurocognitive development. There is an urgent need to understand the impact of HIV and early life ART exposures, immune-metabolic dysregulation, comorbidities and environmental confounders on adverse paediatric outcomes.

METHODS

Six hundred (600) HIV-infected and 600 HIV-uninfected pregnant women ≥20 weeks of gestation will be enrolled from four primary health centres in high density residential areas of Harare. Participants will be followed up as mother-infant-pairs at delivery, week(s) 1, 6, 10, 14, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 after birth. Clinical, socio-economic, nutritional and environmental data will be assessed for adverse birth outcomes, impaired growth, immune/neurodevelopment, vertical transmission of HIV, hepatitis-B/C viruses, cytomegalovirus and syphilis. Maternal urine, stool, plasma, cord blood, amniotic fluid, placenta and milk including infant plasma, dried blood spot and stool will be collected at enrolment and follow-up visits. The composite primary endpoint is stillbirth and infant mortality within the first two years of life in HEU versus HUU infants. Maternal mortality in HIV-infected versus -uninfected women is another primary outcome. Secondary endpoints include a range of maternal and infant outcomes. Sub-studies will address maternal stress and malnutrition, maternal-infant latent tuberculosis, Helicobacter pylori infections, immune-metabolomic dysregulation including gut, breast milk and amniotic fluid dysbiosis.

DISCUSSION

The University of Zimbabwe-College of Health-Sciences-Birth-Cohort study will provide a comprehensive assessment of risk factors and biomarkers for HEU infants' adverse outcomes. This will ultimately help developing strategies to mitigate effects of maternal HIV, early-life ART exposures and comorbidities on infants' mortality and morbidity.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrial.gov Identifier: NCT04087239 . Registered 12 September 2019.

Seroprevalence, risk factors and comorbidities associated with Helicobacter pylori infection amongst children receiving care at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori frequently causes gastritis and peptic ulcers, and affected children are at risk of developing gastric carcinoma later in adulthood.

METHODS

This was a Hospital based cross sectional study. A total of 200 children aged 6 months to 14 years were enrolled. Study subjects were tested for H. pylori using a standard serology rapid test measuring immunoglobulin G for H. pylori. For risk factors, Chi-square tests were used to test for association and then, odds ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals and p-values were computed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori was 11.5%. The following factors were associated with H. pylori infection: Age group above 10 years, keeping a dog and household size. The independent predictors of H. pylori were: Fathers' occupation, keeping a dog, indoor tap water, age group, household size and diabetes mellitus type 1..

CONCLUSION

The seroprevalence of H. pylori antibodies was lower compared to most developing countries. Keeping a dog, household size, indoor tap water, fathers' occupation and diabetes mellitus type 1 were found to be independent predictors of presence of H. pylori antibodies.

Helicobacter pylori gastritis in HIV-infected patients: a review

BACKGROUND

The risk factors for acquiring Helicobacter pylori and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infections are different: H. pylori is transmitted by gastro- or fecal-oral routes and is associated with low socioeconomic conditions, while HIV is transmitted through sexual intercourse, infected body fluids, and transplacentally. If the host responses to these infections were independent, the prevalence of H. pylori should be similar in HIV-infected and non-infected patients. Yet, several studies have detected a lower prevalence of H. pylori in patients with HIV infection, whereas other studies found either no differences or greater rates of H. pylori infection in HIV-positive subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To review studies that addressed the issue of these two simultaneous infections and attempt to determine whether reliable conclusions can be drawn from this corpus of often contrasting evidence.

METHODS

Electronic literature search for relevant publications, followed by manual search of additional citations from extracted articles.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 44 publications; after excluding case reports, reviews, narrowly focused articles, and duplicate reports, there remained 29 articles, which are the corpus of this review. With one exception, all studies reported higher rates of H. pylori infection in HIV-negative subjects. Five studies also examined the CD4 lymphocyte counts and found an inverse correlation between the degree of immunosuppression and the prevalence of active H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that it is likely that H. pylori needs a functional immune system to successfully and persistently colonize the human gastric mucosa.

Helicobacter pylori infection in pregnant women in four districts of Uganda: role of geographic location, education and water sources

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection varies in relation to geography, ethnicity and socioeconomic factors. Available data on the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Uganda are not representative of the general population. We sought to describe the epidemiology of this infection in pregnant women in Uganda to provide background data for a study into the effect of H. pylori infection during pregnancy on the hematological response to iron supplementation.

METHODS

Using a cross-sectional design, H. pylori infection was assessed by the stool antigen test among 447 pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics in Apac, Mbale, Mbarara and Rakai Districts which are in different geographical regions in Uganda, and at Kawempe Health Center which serves a low-income densely populated area in Kampala City. Socio-demographic and household data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. Associations between H. pylori infection and socio-demographic and household characteristics were analyzed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 45.2% but varied by geographical location from 18.2% in Apac District to 60.5% at Kawempe Health Centre. At 18.4%, the Langi ethnic group, who were enrolled exclusively in Apac District, had the lowest prevalence of H. pylori infection while the Gisu had the highest prevalence (58.4%). H. pylori was independently associated with enrollment at clinics not in Apac (adjusted OR = 5.68; 95% CI: 3.02-10.7) and with using water from public wells, boreholes or springs (AOR = 3.20; 95% CI: 1.19-8.61) and from rivers, lakes or streams (AOR = 5.20; 95% CI: 1.58-17.05). Urban residence (AOR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.13-2.60) and no formal education (AOR = 1.95; 95% CI: 1.03-3.67) were also independently associated with H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The unexpected variation in the prevalence of H. pylori infection in Uganda calls for population-based studies in the region and offers an opportunity to study the transmission dynamics of H. pylori infection. The association between H. pylori infection and surface water sources for household use suggests waterborne transmission of H. pylori infection highlighting the need for concerted efforts in environmental health in communities and at the household level.

Seroprevalence of helicobacter pylori in human immunodeficiency virus-positive Patients and it's correlation with CD4(+) Lymphocyte Count

Background:

This study assessed the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori antibodies among Iranian patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It also examines whether anti H. pylori seroprevalence was associated with the severity of the HIV infection or the antiretroviral treatment.

Material and Methods:

A total of 114 HIV-infected patients and 114 age and sex-matched controls, without symptoms referable to upper gastrointestinal tract were recruited. Blood samples were obtained from all subjects. Serum IgG and IgA against H. pylori measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:

The rate of anti H. pylori IgG seropositivity was 57.9% in HIV-infected patients and 28.95% in controls (P < 0.001), while the rate of IgA seropositivity was 2.64% in HIV patients and 31.57% in controls (P < 0.001). Although there was an increasing trend of higher IgG and IgA titre by increasing CD4 cell count in HIV-positive patients, it was not reach statistical significance. There was no statistical difference in the serology of anti H. pylori IgG and IgA between patients receiving antiretroviral therapy comparing untreated HIV patients.

Conclusions:

This study showed higher seroprevalence of H. pylori IgG along with lower seroprevalence of H. pylori IgA in HIV-positive patients compared matched controls.

Retracted: Increased risk of stomach and esophageal malignancies in people with AIDS

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief and Authors. The authors recently discovered two programming errors that affected the results in their article on the epidemiology of esophageal and stomach cancers in human immunodeficiency virus infected people. As a result of these errors, the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were too high. The corrected SIRs are all lower than the authors reported, and the corrected SIR for stomach cancer is no longer significantly elevated. These errors affect Tables 2-5 in the paper. Because the new findings alter the conclusions, the editors and authors have jointly made the decision to retract the paper. The authors would like to express their sincere regret at the errors in their initial report and any inconvenience or confusion that they created. The corrected results may be obtained by contacting the corresponding author, Dr. Eric A. Engels, by email at engelse@exchange.nih.gov.

Helicobacter pylori in pediatrics

This review summarizes important pediatric studies published from April 2011 up to March 2012. Proteomics profile of ulcerogenic Helicobacter pylori strains was defined in the most interesting study of the last year. The antigen stool test is becoming the "gold standard" in prevalence studies, and according to the last epidemiologic studies, the prevalence of H. pylori infection in childhood is not decreasing any more in the developed world. The resistance rate of H. pylori strains is high in children. Therefore, among other important issues concerning H. pylori in pediatrics, guidelines published by ESPGHAN and NASPGHAN last year also recommended culture and susceptibility testing before first-line treatment in areas with high or unknown antibiotic resistance rates.

Faecal calprotectin in HIV-infected, HAART-naïve Ugandan children

OBJECTIVES

Calprotectin is a calcium- and zinc-binding protein and a marker in faeces of gastrointestinal inflammation. Reference values have been established in children older than 4 years. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration of faecal calprotectin (FC) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected, highly active antiretroviral therapy-naïve Ugandan children and compare it with the reference value.

METHODS

We tested 193 HIV-infected children ages 0 to 12 years in a hospital-based survey for FC. A standardised interview with sociodemographic information and medical history was used to assess risk factors. A cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell percentage was prevalent in all of the children.

RESULTS

The median FC concentrations decreased with increasing age, as in healthy children. The median concentration was 208 mg/kg in infants 0 to 1 year, 171 mg/kg among toddlers 1 to 4 years, and 62 mg/kg for children 4 to 12 years. Children with advanced disease and a low CD4 cell percentage had significantly higher FC concentrations than those with a high CD4 cell percentage. Children older than 4 years with diarrhoea had significantly higher FC concentrations compared with those without diarrhoea.

CONCLUSIONS

HIV-infected children older than 4 years had a median FC concentration above the reference value, and gut inflammation in the children with elevated values is likely. Children with more advanced disease had increased FC concentrations regardless of age.