Helycobacter Pylori: a new test provided in our laboratory

Helicobacter Pylori is an acidophilus bacteria living in stomach. The presence of urea in that organ allows performing breath test to verify the level of CO2.
Using serum, laboratory can quantify only the antibodies but not demonstrate active illness.
In order to the antigen (at the beginning of illness) the best test is on stool.
Our laboratory started processing the new H.pylori test as from 23rd July 2012.  This small data collection and analysis ends on 29 of August 2012.

During this period we performed: 190 tests;
86 of them POSITIVE
94 NEGATIVE.

Tests/Day average is 4,86and matches with the number of gastroscopies.

In spite of being a very small data collection, our data is in contradiction with the assumption that most of the people are positive for H.pylori in Africa.
The findings also contradict the fact that to all the people with gastritis or peptic ulcer we are supposed to prescribe a course of antibiotics for h. pylori eradication. In fact the percentage of positives is below 50%.
Because of rising levels of resistance to Metronidazole, our treatment of choice for H.pylori is an association of chlarythromycin and amoxicilline.

Dr Br Beppe Gaido
Dr Anna Sampo’