Epidemiology of and Antibiotic Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Infection

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 810

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Szentkirályi utca 46, 1086 Budapest, Hungary
Interests: bladder pain syndrome; epilepsy; keratitis; Helicobacter pylori infection

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The goal of Helicobacter pylori eradication is to completely eliminate the bacteria as part of the treatment or prevention of peptic ulcers, MALT lymphoma, atrophic gastritis, idiopathic iron deficiency anemia, and ITP, and it should also be considered in many cases of dyspepsia. The first choice today is usually a 10-14-day quadruple therapy with bismuth (PPI + bismuth + tetracycline + metronidazole). Where antibiotic resistance is low and there has been no previous use of macrolides, clarithromycin-based triple therapy (PPI + amoxicillin + clarithromycin) may be given, but it is becoming less popular due to its decreasing effectiveness. In case of failure, levofloxacin- or rifabutin-containing "salvage" treatment or personalized therapy based on resistance testing is recommended. The key to success is the right dose, sufficient duration, and good adherence; side effects (abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, taste disturbance) are common but can be mitigated by probiotics. To confirm cure, a ¹³C-urea breath test or stool antigen test is required 4 weeks after antibiotics and at least 2 weeks after PPI discontinuation. Reinfection is rare in adults. Acid reducers and bismuth should be avoided prior to diagnosis as they may cause false-negative results. In special situations (allergies, pregnancy, childhood), individual assessment and adherence to guidelines are necessary. Eradication reduces ulcer recurrence and the risk of gastric cancer in the long term.

Dr. Peter Birinyi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Helicobacter pylori infection
  • bismuth citrate
  • metronidazole
  • tetracycline
  • amoxicillin
  • clarithromycin
  • proton pump inhibitor
  • amoxicillin

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

10 pages, 258 KB  
Article
Levofloxacin and Rifampin Resistance in Helicobacter pylori Isolates from Central-Western Colombia: Role of gyrA Mutations in Fluoroquinolone Resistance
by Adalucy Álvarez-Aldana, Leonardo Beltrán-Angarita, Yina Marcela Guaca-González, Manuel Alejandro Velandia-López and Lyudmila Boyanova
Antibiotics 2026, 15(5), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15050452 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 435
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori causes one of the most prevalent chronic bacterial infections worldwide. Data about H. pylori resistance rates to levofloxacin and rifampin (antimicrobials for second-, third- or fourth-line therapy) in Colombia and South America are scarce. The present study aimed to [...] Read more.
Background: Helicobacter pylori causes one of the most prevalent chronic bacterial infections worldwide. Data about H. pylori resistance rates to levofloxacin and rifampin (antimicrobials for second-, third- or fourth-line therapy) in Colombia and South America are scarce. The present study aimed to assess levofloxacin and rifampin resistance rates among 61 H. pylori isolates from the western-central region of Colombia and to identify gyrA point mutations associated with levofloxacin resistance. Methods: For this purpose, antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the E-test method and gyrA mutations in levofloxacin-resistant isolates were identified by PCR amplification followed by DNA sequencing. Results: Resistance rates to levofloxacin and rifampin were 24.6% and 13.1%, respectively. Among the 15 levofloxacin-resistant isolates, 6 (40%) isolates had ≥2 gyrA mutations and 5 of them exhibited high (≥32 mg/L) levofloxacin MICs. In addition, two new mutations (Y90C and V89D) were also detected. Conclusions: Clinically relevant resistance to levofloxacin and rifampin was detected among H. pylori isolates from central-western Colombia. Multiple gyrA mutations were identified in a significant proportion of levofloxacin-resistant isolates and were mainly associated with high MIC values, highlighting the need for regional surveillance to guide eradication therapies. Full article
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