Seven-day triple therapy is a better choice for Helicobacter pylori eradication in regions with low antibiotic resistance

Antimicrobial Resistance Molecular Mechanisms of Helicobacter pylori in Jordanian Children: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background: H. pylori antimicrobial resistance causes increasing treatment failure rates among H. pylori gastritis in children. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms of H. pylori antimicrobial resistance among Jordanian children. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded for children referred to Prince Hamzah Hospital. Clarithromycin, Metronidazole, and Levofloxacin susceptibility were tested via E-test. Clarithromycin-related mutations were investigated using Real-Time (RT)-PCR and Levofloxacin resistance was analyzed with DNA sequencing of the gyrA gene. Results: 116 children were recruited, including 55.2% females and 55.2% in the age range of 10.1 to 14 years. A total of 82.7% were naïve to eradication therapy. H. pylori positivity was 93.9%, 89.6%, 61.7%, and 84.3% according to Rapid Urease Test, histology, culture, and RT-PCR, respectively. Resistance rates were 25.9% for Clarithromycin, 50% for Metronidazole, and 6.9% for Levofloxacin via E-test. A2142G or A2143G or a combination of both mutations concerning Clarithromycin resistance were documented in 26.1% of samples, while mutations in gyrA gen-related to Levofloxacin resistance were reported in 5.3% of samples. Antibiotic resistance was significantly affected by abdominal pain, anemia, hematemesis, and histological findings (p < 0.05). Conclusion: H. pylori resistance was documented for Metronidazole and Clarithromycin. RT-PCR for H. pylori identification and microbial resistance determination are valuable alternatives for cultures in determining antimicrobial susceptibility.

Current Worldwide Trends in Pediatric Helicobacter pylori Antimicrobial Resistance

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has acquired several resistance mechanisms in order to escape the currently used eradication regimens such as mutations that impair the replication, recombination, and transcription of DNA; the antibiotics capability to interact with protein synthesis and ribosomal activity; the adequate redox state of bacterial cells; or the penicillin-binding proteins. The aim of this review was to identify the differences in pediatric H. pylori antimicrobial-resistance trends between continents and countries of the same continent. In Asian pediatric patients, the greatest antimicrobial resistance was found to metronidazole (>50%), probably due to its wide use for parasitic infections. Aside from the increased resistance to metronidazole, the reports from different Asian countries indicated also high resistance rates to clarithromycin, suggesting that ciprofloxacin-based eradication therapy and bismuth-based quadruple therapy might be optimal choices for the eradication of H. pylori in Asian pediatric population. The scarce evidence for America revealed that H. pylori strains display an increased resistance to clarithromycin (up to 79.6%), but not all studies agreed on this statement. Pediatric patients from Africa also presented the greatest resistance rate to metronidazole (91%), but the results in terms of amoxicillin remain contradictory. Nevertheless, the lowest resistance rates in most of the African studies were found for quinolones. Among European children, the most frequent antimicrobial resistance was also noticed for metronidazole and clarithromycin (up to 59% and 45%) but with a predominance for clarithromycin as compared to other continents. The differences in antibiotic use among continents and countries worldwide is clearly responsible for the discrepancies regarding H. pylori antimicrobial-resistance patterns, emphasizing the crucial role of global judicious antibiotic use in order to control the increasing resistance rates worldwide.

High-dose amoxicillin-proton pump inhibitor dual therapy as first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection in Northwest China: A prospective, randomised controlled trial

AIMS

We aimed to assess the eradication efficacy and factors that influencing it of high-dose dual therapy (HDDT) in Gansu region, Northwest China.

METHODS

A total of 216 treatment-naive patients with Helicobacter pylori infection were randomly assigned to two groups for the 14-day eradication treatment: the HDDT group (amoxicillin 750 mg q.i.d. and esomeprazole 40 mg t.i.d.) and the amoxicillin and clarithromycin-containing bismuth quadruple therapy group (ACBQT: esomeprazole 20 mg, bismuth potassium citrate 2 g, amoxicillin 1 g, and clarithromycin 500 mg; b.i.d.). The eradication rates, adverse effects and patient compliance of these two groups were compared. Eradication efficacy was determined by ¹³ C urea breath test (¹³ C UBT) 4-8 weeks after finishing treatment. Antibiotic resistance was determined by the Epsilometer testing (E-test) method.

RESULTS

The eradication rates for the HDDT and ACBQT groups were 71.0% and 74.7% (P = .552) by per-protocol analysis, and 65.7% and 68.5% (P = .664) by intention-to-treat analysis. The overall adverse event rates in the HDDT and ACBQT groups were 2.0% and 43.4% (P < .001), respectively. The resistance rates to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, tetracycline, levofloxacin and metronidazole were 15.2%, 42.0%, 5.4%, 35.7% and 83.0%, respectively. Amoxicillin resistance and delta over baseline (DOB) of ¹³ C UBT ≥ 20 before treatment significantly reduced the eradication rate in 112 participants with H. pylori cultured.

CONCLUSION

The HDDT as first-line treatment for H. pylori was unsatisfactory in Gansu. Amoxicillin resistance and DOB of ¹³ C UBT ≥ 20 before treatment were significantly correlated with H. pylori eradication failure.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection: The Bhubaneswar Consensus Report of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology

The Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) felt the need to organize a consensus on Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and to update the current management of H. pylori infection; hence, ISG constituted the ISG's Task Force on Helicobacter pylori. The Task Force on H. pylori undertook an exercise to produce consensus statements on H. pylori infection. Twenty-five experts from different parts of India, including gastroenterologists, pathologists, surgeons, epidemiologists, pediatricians, and microbiologists participated in the meeting. The participants were allocated to one of following sections for the meeting: Epidemiology of H. pylori infection in India and H. pylori associated conditions; diagnosis; treatment and retreatment; H. pylori and gastric cancer, and H. pylori prevention/public health. Each group reviewed all published literature on H. pylori infection with special reference to the Indian scenario and prepared appropriate statements on different aspects for voting and consensus development. This consensus, which was produced through a modified Delphi process including two rounds of face-to-face meetings, reflects our current understanding and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of H. pylori infection. These consensus should serve as a reference for not only guiding treatment of H. pylori infection but also to guide future research on the subject.

Identifying the best regimen for primary eradication of Helicobacter pylori: analysis of 240 cases

The treatment regimen for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori may be best when therapy is susceptibility guided. However, it is unrealistic to use a strategy based on susceptibility testing to prioritize therapy for every patient in China. Empirical therapy of H. pylori is still widely used. The study was designed to discuss the best first‐line treatment regimen depending on empirical therapy. The focal point of the study was the optimal length of the therapy. Also, the selection of antibiotics was discussed in the article. This was a prospective, randomized, non‐inferiority trial. H. pylori‐infected patients who have no previous eradication therapy were randomly assigned to the following: 20 mg of rabeprazole, 1000 mg of amoxicillin, 500 mg of clarithromycin, and 220 mg of bismuth potassium citrate (BACPPI), administered twice a day for 10 or 14 days. The efficacy, side effects, and remission rate of clinical symptoms were determined. A total of 240 subjects were included in the study. The eradication rate with 14 and 10 days was essentially identical in both intention‐to‐treat (90.83% [95% CI, 86%–96%] vs. 87.50% [95% CI, 82%–93%]) and per‐protocol (94.78% [95% CI, 91%–99%] vs. 92.11% [95% CI, 87%–97%]) analyses. Loss of appetite and belching symptoms were significantly better in the BACPPI‐10 group than those in the control group after treatment. Side effects were generally mild and similar between groups. Our results showed that a 10‐day amoxicillin–clarithromycin‐containing bismuth quadruple therapy may be recommended for the primary empirical treatment of H. pylori infection in Beijing, China.

The effect of antibiotic resistance on Helicobacter pylori eradication efficacy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant strains has been rapidly increasing due to the wide use of antibiotics. To evaluate the current effects of antibiotic resistance on Helicobacter pylori eradication efficacy, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Literature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 12.0 (StataCorp LP, College Station, TX, USA).

RESULTS

A total of 120 studies, including 28 707 patients, were assessed. Only first-line therapy was considered. The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to clarithromycin was 0.682 (95% CI: 0.636-0.731). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to metronidazole was 0.843 (95% CI: 0.810-0.877). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to levofloxacin was 0.794 (95% CI: 0.669-0.941). The pooled RR of eradication rate in patients with Helicobacter pylori strains sensitive versus resistant to dual clarithromycin and metronidazole was 0.674 (95% CI: 0.590-0.770).

CONCLUSION

Antibiotic resistance causes a decrease in the eradication rate of H pylori today. Quadruple concomitant therapy may overcome the declining H pylori eradication rate caused by metronidazole-only resistance.

Is tailored therapy based on antibiotic susceptibility effective ? a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial

An effective eradication therapy of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) should be used for the first time. In this study, we assessed whether tailored therapy based on antibiotic susceptibility testing is more effective than traditional therapy. We also evaluated the factors that cause treatment failure in high-resistance areas. For this multicenter trial, we recruited 467 H. pylori-positive patients. The patients were randomly assigned to receive tailored triple therapy (TATT), tailored bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (TABQT), or traditional bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (TRBQT). For the TATT and TABQT groups, antibiotic selection proceeded via susceptibility testing using an agar-dilution test. The patients in the TRBQT group were given amoxicillin, clarithromycin, esomeprazole, and bismuth. Successful eradication was defined as a negative ¹³C-urea breath test at least eight weeks after the treatment ended. Susceptibility testing was conducted using an agar-dilution test. The eradication rate was examined via intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. The clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole resistance rates were 26.12%, 28.69%, and 96.79%, respectively. Resistance against amoxicillin and furazolidone was rare. The eradication rates for TATT, TRBQT, and TABQT were 67.32%, 63.69%, and 85.99% in the ITT analysis (P 0.001) and 74.64%, 68.49%, and 91.22% in the PP analysis (P 0.001), respectively. The efficacy of TABQT was affected by clarithromycin resistance, and bismuth exerted a direct influence on TATT failure. TABQT was the most efficacious regimen for use in high-resistance regions, especially among clarithromycin-susceptible patients.

Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in Helicobacter pylori: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis in World Health Organization Regions

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated clarithromycin-resistant Helicobacter pylori a high priority for antibiotic research and development. However, there are no clear data on the global distribution of resistance or its clinical effects. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the distribution of H pylori resistance to commonly used antibiotics and to measure the association between antibiotic resistance and treatment failure.

METHODS

We searched publication databases for studies that assessed rates of H pylori resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, or tetracycline. Pooled estimates of primary and secondary resistance and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were grouped by WHO region. The association between antibiotic resistance and treatment failure was measured by extracting data on treatment efficacy in patients with resistant and susceptible isolates and pooling odds ratios with 95% CIs.

RESULTS

We identified 178 studies, comprising 66,142 isolates from 65 countries. Primary and secondary resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin were ≥15% in all WHO regions, except primary clarithromycin resistance in the Americas (10%; 95% CI, 4%-16%) and South-East Asia region (10%; 95% CI, 5%-16%) and primary levofloxacin resistance in the European region (11%; 95% CI, 9%-13%). There was considerable heterogeneity (I2 > 75%) among all analyses-this might have resulted from the grouping of resistance rates by country. Increasing antibiotic resistance was observed in most WHO regions. Resistance to clarithromycin was significantly associated with failure of clarithromycin-containing regimens (odds ratio, 6.97; 95% CI, 5.23-9.28; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Resistance of H pylori to antibiotics has reached alarming levels worldwide, which has a great effect on efficacy of treatment. Local surveillance networks are required to select appropriate eradication regimens for each region.

Efficacy of two different dosages of levofloxacin in curing Helicobacter pylori infection: A Prospective, Single-Center, randomized clinical trial

Bismuth + proton pump inhibitor (PPI) + amoxicillin + levofloxacin is one of the bismuth quadruple therapy regimens widely used for the eradication of H. pylori infection. The recommended dosage of levofloxacin is 500 mg once daily or 200 mg twice daily to eradicate H. pylori infection. The aim of the present open-label, randomized control trial was to compare the effectiveness, safety, and compliance of different dosages of levofloxacin used to cure Helicobacter pylori infection. Eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive esomeprazole, amoxicillin, colloidal bismuth pectin and levofloxacin 500 mg once/day (group A) or levofloxacin 200 mg twice/day (group B) for 14 days. The primary outcome was the eradication rates in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. Overall, 400 patients were enrolled. The eradication rates in group A and group B were 77.5% and 79.5% respectively, in the ITT analysis, and 82.9% and 86.4%, respectively, in the PP analysis. No significant differences were found between two groups in terms of eradication rate, adverse effects or compliance. Oral levofloxacin 200 mg twice daily was similar in efficacy for eradicating H. pylori infection to oral levofloxacin 500 mg once daily but with lower mean total costs.

Vonoprazan- vs proton-pump inhibitor-based first-line 7-day triple therapy for clarithromycin-susceptible Helicobacter pylori: A multicenter, prospective, randomized trial

BACKGROUND

The eradication rate of vonoprazan-based first-line triple therapy (combined with clarithromycin and amoxicillin) (V-AC) was reported to be 97.6% in patients with clarithromycin (CAM)-susceptible Helicobacter pylori in a phase III study, whereas our real-world, prospective, multicenter cohort study yielded an eradication rate <90%.

OBJECTIVE

To validate the eradication rate of V-AC using CAM-susceptible testing in a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial.

METHODS

We included 147 treatment-naïve H. pylori-positive patients [41 with CAM-resistant infections and 106 with CAM-susceptible infections]. The CAM-susceptible group patients were randomized to either the V-AC group (vonoprazan 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 750 mg bid, and clarithromycin 200 or 400 mg bid) or PPI-AC group (lansoprazole 30 mg, rabeprazole 10 mg, or esomeprazole 20 mg bid; amoxicillin 750 mg bid; and clarithromycin 200 or 400 mg bid). All CAM-resistant H. pylori were eradicated by V-AC, as measured by the urea breath test around 8 weeks after eradication. Safety was evaluated by patient questionnaires.

RESULTS

The intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates of V-AC in the CAM-susceptible H. pylori-infected patients were 87.3% (95% confidence interval 75.5%-94.7%) and 88.9% (77.4%-95.8%). The respective eradication rates of PPI-AC were 76.5% (62.5%-87.2%) and 86.7% (73.2%-94.9%). No significant difference was observed between the V-AC and PPI-AC regimes in terms of the intention-to-treat (P = .21) or per-protocol (P = .77) analyses. The questionnaire scores did not differ significantly between the groups. Both the intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates of V-AC in the CAM-resistant patients were 82.9% (67.9%-92.8%).

CONCLUSION

The eradication rate of V-AC treatment in the CAM-susceptible H. pylori-infected patients was <90%, as was that by PPI-AC, thus V-AC is not ideal regimen in CAM-susceptible H. pylori. However, the 82.9% eradication rate of V-AC in the CAM-resistant infections may indicate the potential of V-AC with modified dose, dosing interval, and treatment duration. (UMIN000016337).

Application of next-generation sequencing to characterize novel mutations in clarithromycin-susceptible Helicobacter pylori strains with A2143G of 23S rRNA gene

Background

Clarithromycin (CLR) resistance has become a predominant factor for treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori eradication. Although the molecular mechanism of CLR resistance has been clearly understood in H. pylori, it is lack of evidence of other genes involved in drug resistance. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of phenotype susceptible to CLR while genotype of 23S rRNA is mutant with A2143G is unclear. Here, we characterized the mutations of CLR-resistant and -susceptible H. pylori strains to explore bacterial resistance.

Methods

In the present study, the whole genomes of twelve clinical isolated H. pylori strains were sequenced, including two CLR-susceptible strains with mutation of A2143G. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were extracted and analyzed from multidrug efflux transporter genes.

Results

We did not find mutations associated with known CLR-resistant sites except for controversial T2182C outside of A2143G in the 23S rRNA gene. Although total SNVs of multidrug efflux transporter gene and the SNVs of HP0605 were significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between phenotype resistant and susceptible strains. There is no significant difference in SNVs of RND or MFS (HP1181) family. However, the number of mutations in the RND family was significantly higher in the mutant strain (A2143G) than in the wild type. In addition, three special variations from two membrane proteins of mtrC and hefD were identified in both CLR-susceptible strains with A2143G.

Conclusions

Next-generation sequencing is a practical strategy for analyzing genomic variation associated with antibiotic resistance in H. pylori. The variations of membrane proteins of the RND family may be able to participate in the regulation of clinical isolated H. pylori susceptibility profiles.

Comparison between different first-line therapy protocols in eradicating Helicobacter pylori in a region with high clarithromycin resistance

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori infection is encountered in more than 50% of the world population. A high rate of clarithromycin resistance is observed among Helicobacter pylori strains in some regions because clarithromycin is a drug commonly used for the treatment of other infections.

Aim

To identify an efficient eradication protocol for patients infected with H. pylori and to suggest an alternative first-line therapy particularly in countries with high clarithromycin resistance.

Material and methods

Patients (18-75 years old) having dyspeptic complaints in a 1-year period and diagnosed with H. pylori infection by gastric biopsy were included and randomised to three groups, each receiving different sequential eradication therapy (LAM-B: lansoprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, bismuth: LAM-T: lansoprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline; LAM-BT: lansoprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, bismuth, tetracycline). Eradication was evaluated via urea breath test.

Results

This study included 166 patients (mean age: 40 ±12 years; female, 68.7%) with H. pylori infection. Among them, 50 (30.1%) were in the LAM-B group, 59 (35.5%) were in the LAM-T group, and 57 (34.3%) were in the LAM-BT group. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use was the lowest in the LAM-BT group. Eradication rates were over 80% and similar in each group, with the highest rate in the LAM-BT group (93%). Adverse event rate was the highest in the LAM-T group. Helicobacter pylori eradication was achieved in 143 (86.1%) patients.

Conclusions

The combination regimens without clarithromycin achieved an eradication rate over 80% in all groups. Knowing and monitoring the regional antibiotic resistance rates is important for successful treatment of H. pylori infections.

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.