Efficacy of bismuth-containing quadruple therapies for clarithromycin-, metronidazole-, and fluoroquinolone-resistant Helicobacter pylori infections in a prospective study

Treatment failure is a key factor in the development of Helicobacter pylori resistance

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori eradication failure influences its antibiotic resistance.

AIMS

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of previous treatment failures on it, including the changes in the antibiotic resistance rates, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions, and resistance patterns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This single-center retrospective study included 860 primary isolates and 247 secondary isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed for amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, furazolidone, tetracycline, and rifampicin. The demographic data and detailed regimens were collected.

RESULTS

The primary resistance rates to amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, tetracycline, rifampin, and furazolidone were 5.93%, 83.84%, 28.82%, 26.28%, 0.35%, 1.16%, and 0%, while secondary were 25.10%, 92.31%, 79.76%, 63.16%, 1.06%, 3.19%, and 0%, respectively. The resistance rates to amoxicillin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin increased significantly with the number of treatment failures accumulated, and showed a linear trend. The proportion of primary and secondary multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates were 17.79% and 63.16%, respectively. The MIC values of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and levofloxacin were elevated significantly with medication courses increased.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole resistance would increase rapidly following first-line treatment failure, as well as the MIC values of them. Clinicians should pay great attention to the first-line treatment to cure H. pylori infection successfully.

Fourteen-day vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication in an area with high clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance: a prospective randomized study (VQ-HP trial)

Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CABs) provide potent acid inhibition, yet studies on P-CAB-based quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication are limited. We theorized that integrating bismuth subsalicylate into a quadruple therapy regimen could enhance eradication rates. However, data on the efficacy of vonoprazan bismuth quadruple therapy are notably scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy in areas with high clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance. This was a prospective, single-center, randomized trial conducted to compare the efficacy of 7-day and 14-day vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication between June 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022. Qualified patients were randomly assigned to the 7-day or 14-day regimen (1:1 ratio by computer-generated randomized list as follows: 51 patients for the 7-day regimen and 50 patients for the 14-day regimen). The regimens consisted of vonoprazan (20 mg) twice daily, bismuth subsalicylate (1024 mg) twice daily, metronidazole (400 mg) three times daily, and tetracycline (500 mg) four times daily. CYP3A4/5 genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility tests were also performed. Successful eradication was defined as 13negative C-UBTs 4 weeks after treatment. The primary endpoint was to compare the efficacy of 7-day and 14-day regimens as first-line treatments, which were assessed by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. The secondary endpoints included adverse effects. A total of 337 dyspeptic patients who underwent gastroscopy were included; 105 patients (31.1%) were diagnosed with H. pylori infection, and 101 patients were randomly assigned to each regimen. No dropouts were detected. The antibiotic resistance rate was 33.3% for clarithromycin, 29.4% for metronidazole, and 27.7% for levofloxacin. The CYP3A4 genotype was associated with 100% rapid metabolism. The H. pylori eradication rates for the 7-day and 14-day regimens were 84.4%, 95% CI 74.3-94.2 and 94%, 95% CI 87.4-100, respectively (RR difference 0.25, 95% CI 0.03-0.53, p value = 0.11). Interestingly, the 14-day regimen led to 100% eradication in the clarithromycin-resistant group. Among the patients in the 7-day regimen group, only two exhibited resistance to clarithromycin; unfortunately, neither of them achieved a cure from H. pylori infection. The incidence of adverse events was similar in both treatment groups, occurring in 29.4% (15/51) and 28% (14/50) of patients in the 7-day and 14-day regimens, respectively. No serious adverse reactions were reported. In conclusion, 14 days of vonoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy is highly effective for H. pylori eradication in areas with high levels of dual clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance.

Application of furazolidone in Helicobacter pylori infection eradication

Increasing antibiotic resistance is the primary reason for treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. To enhance the eradication rate, minimize the development of secondary resistance, and alleviate the socioeconomic burden, it is crucial to select H. pylori-sensitive antibiotics carefully. Furazolidone has been used for H. pylori eradication in developing countries for decades due to its affordability and low resistance rate. Numerous studies have demonstrated that furazolidone-containing regimens are more efficacious than those containing other antibiotics, as both first- and second-line therapies, and are also well tolerated. However, utility of furazolidone is restricted or not optimal in certain countries due to its infrequent but potentially severe adverse effects. The decision to discontinue usage of furazolidone because of concerns regarding adverse effects may be misguided. Here we comprehensively reviewed the studies on furazolidone at different dosages and treatment durations for H. pylori eradication. Further research on the mechanisms of action and clinical trials of furazolidone are of great practical importance.

The Efficacy and Safety of Regimens for Helicobacter pylori Eradication Treatment in China: A Systemic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

With Helicobacter pylori's increasing antibiotic resistance, evidence of more effective treatments is lacking in China, where H. pylori prevalence is nearly 50%. Thus, we performed a network meta-analysis to compare therapeutic regimens.

METHODS

Data extracted from eligible randomized controlled trials from January 2000 to September 2021 were entered into a Bayesian hierarchical random-effects model to evaluate the efficacy and safety of H. pylori eradication regimens.

RESULTS

This study included 101 trials involving 21,745 patients. Vonoprazan-bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (VBQT) ranked the highest [surfaces under cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), 83.64%], followed by high-dose amoxicillin dual therapy (HDDT) [SUCRA, 79.70%, odds ratio (OR)=1.31, 95% credible interval (CrI) (0.36, 4.72)] and proton pump inhibitor-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) [SUCRA, 63.59%, OR=1.59, 95% CrI (0.48, 5.24)]. HDDT [OR=2.47, 95% CrI (1.51, 4.06)], BQT [OR=2.04, 95% CrI (1.69, 2.47)], concomitant quadruple nonbismuth therapy (CT) [OR=1.93, 95% CrI (1.19, 3.15)], and sequential therapy (ST) [OR=1.86, 95% CrI (1.50, 2.32)] had higher eradication rates than standard triple therapy (TT). ST (SUCRA, 82.52%) and VBQT (SUCRA, 83.89%) had the highest eradication rate before and after 2010 in the effectiveness ranking, respectively. Furthermore, the H. pylori eradication rate of patients receiving 14-day BQT treatment was higher than that of 10-day BQT regimen [OR=2.55, 95% CI (1.84, 3.53)] and 7-day BQT regimen [OR=3.64, 95% CI (2.64, 5.01)].

CONCLUSIONS

The TT regimen was not an optimal choice in China for H. pylori eradication; VBQT, HDDT, and BQT showed better efficacy. After 2010, there is a trend toward significance that VBQT provided a higher H. pylori eradication rate in China, but with only 1 randomized controlled trial. Thus, more supportive real-world data are needed to confirm its effectiveness.

A Counterion-Free Strategy for Chronic Metabolic Acidosis Based on an Orally Administered Gut-Restricted Inorganic Adsorbent

Chronic metabolic acidosis, arising as a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), not only reduces patients' quality of life but also aggravates renal impairment. The only available therapeutic modality, involving intravenous infusion of NaHCO3 , engenders undesirable sodium retention, thereby increasing hemodynamic load and seriously exacerbating the primary disease. This deleterious cascade extends to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Herein, an orally administered, gut-restricted inorganic adsorbent that can effectively alleviate chronic metabolic acidosis without causing any electrolytic derangement or superfluous cardiovascular strain is developed. The genesis of ABC-350 entails the engineering of bismuth subcarbonate via annealing, thereby yielding a partially β-Bi2 O3 -doped (BiO)2 CO3 biphasic crystalline structure framework enriched with atomic vacancies. ABC-350 can selectively remove chloride ions and protons from the gastrointestinal tract, mimicking the physiological response to gastric acid removal and resulting in increased serum bicarbonate. Owing to its gut-restricted nature, ABC-350 exhibits commendable biosafety, averting undue systemic exposure. In two rat models of metabolic acidosis, ABC-350 emerges not only as a potent mitigator of acidosis but also effects discernible amelioration concerning proximal tubular morphology, interstitial fibrosis, and the incendiary cascades incited by metabolic acidosis. ABC-350, as the translationally relevant material, provides a promising strategy for the treatment of metabolic acidosis.

Effectiveness of Rifabutin-Based Regimens in Treating Helicobacter pylori Infections

Helicobacter pylori has been reported as a health problem worldwide, affecting a sizable portion of people. Peptic ulcers, gastric cancer, and various extra gastric conditions are associated with this bacterium. The rampant overprescribing of antibiotics has led to the emergence of H. pylori strains resistant to multiple antibiotics, causing a decline in the effectiveness of current treatments. Recently, there has been growing interest in researching alternative treatment options for H. pylori infections that do not respond to initial therapy. Rifabutin, a rifamycin derivative initially designed for tuberculosis treatment and preventing Mycobacterium avium complex infection, has gained attention as a potential rescue medication. It has shown efficacy against H. pylori and the potential to eradicate the bacterium when combined with other antibiotics. This systematic review article focuses on using rifabutin-based regimens as a treatment option after initial treatments have failed. The authors screened literature published in the last five years, between 2017 and 2022, across various search engines and closely examined relevant studies following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) criteria. The search covered a variety of electronic databases and focused on H. pylori gastritis, rifabutin-based treatment plans, and in vivo investigations in healthy individuals. The comprehensive review provides convincing evidence that rifabutin-based regimens are effective rescue treatments for H. pylori infections. Multiple studies in various areas consistently demonstrated high eradication rates, ranging from 70% to 90%, when rifabutin-containing regimens were used. The analysis found that only a tiny percentage of H. pylori strains (1%) were resistant to rifabutin therapy, further supporting the viability of Rifabutin as an alternative when other antibiotics failed to eradicate H. pylori. The cost of Rifabutin is a significant factor that may limit its accessibility, particularly in resource-constrained settings where H. pylori infection is common. Moreover, the potential side effects of Rifabutin, such as hematological problems, rashes, and digestive issues, need to be considered. However, these side effects are typically manageable and can be reduced by combining Rifabutin with other antibiotics. In conclusion, this systematic review provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of regimens derived from Rifabutin in eliminating H. pylori infections after initial therapy failure. Due to the observation that Rifabutin effectively eradicates resistant H. pylori infections, it can be considered a suitable choice for rescue therapy. Rifabutin-containing regimens should be reserved as fourth- or later-line therapy options, considering economic factors, the risk of microbial resistance, potential side effects, and the availability of alternative medications. Future research should focus on optimizing rifabutin-based regimens and investigating combination therapies that have better H. pylori eradication rates while also addressing the problem of resistant strains.

Rifabutin-Containing Triple Therapy Versus Bismuth Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Rescue Treatment: A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

We compared the efficacy and safety of rifabutin-containing triple therapy with bismuth quadruple therapy for rescue treatment of Helicobacter pylori.

METHODS

This was a noninferiority study trial of H. pylori treatment for subjects who had failed at least 2 prior treatments. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive rifabutin triple therapy with 14-day esomeprazole (20 mg), amoxicillin (1.0 g), and rifabutin (150 mg) twice a day; or bismuth quadruple therapy with esomeprazole (20 mg) and bismuth (220 mg) twice a day, plus metronidazole (400 mg) and tetracycline (500 mg) 4 times a day. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by agar dilution and E-test.

RESULTS

From May 2021 to October 2022, a total of 364 subjects were randomized. The eradication rates by intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and modified intention-to-treat were 89.0% (162/182; 95% confidence interval [CI], 83.6%-92.8%), 94.0% (157/167; 95% CI, 89.3%-96.7%), and 93.6% (162/173; 95% CI, 89.0%-96.4%) for rifabutin triple group. For bismuth quadruple group, they were 89.6% (163/182; 95% CI, 84.3%-93.2%), 95.3% (143/150; 95% CI, 90.7%-97.7%), and 93.7% (163/174; 95% CI, 89.0%-96.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The rifabutin triple therapy is an alternative to classical bismuth quadruple therapy for the rescue treatment of H. pylori with fewer side effects and higher compliance.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION

NCT04879992.

Minocycline vs. tetracycline in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori rescue treatment: a multicentre, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of minocycline vs. tetracycline in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) rescue treatment.

METHODS

This study was a multi-center, randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial. Refractory H. pylori-infected subjects with multiple treatment-failure were randomly (1:1) allocated to receive 14-day therapy with esomeprazole 20 mg b.i.d, bismuth 220 mg b.i.d, plus metronidazole 400 mg q.i.d and minocycline 100 mg b.i.d (minocycline group) or tetracycline 500 mg q.i.d (tetracycline group). Primary outcome was H. pylori eradication rate evaluated by 13C-urea breath test at least 6 weeks after the end of treatment. Antibiotic resistance was determined using E test method.

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty-eight subjects were randomized. The eradication rates in minocycline group and tetracycline group were 88.0% (162/184, 95% CI 83.3-92.8%) and 88.6% (163/184, 95% CI 83.9-93.2%) in intention-to-treat analysis, 98.0% (149/152, 95% CI 95.8-100%) and 97.4% (150/154, 95% CI 94.9-99.9%) in per-protocol analysis, 93.1% (162/174, 95% CI 89.3-96.9%) and 93.1% (163/175, 95% CI 89.4-96.9%) in modified intention-to-treat analysis. Minocycline, tetracycline and metronidazole resistance rates were 0.7%, 1.4% and 89.6%, respectively. Non-inferiority of minocycline was confirmed (P < 0.025). Metronidazole resistance did not affect the efficacy of either therapy. The two therapies exhibited comparable frequencies of adverse events (55.4% vs. 53.3%); almost half of them were mild. Dizziness was the most common adverse events in the minocycline group.

CONCLUSIONS

Minocycline can be an alternative for tetracycline in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for H. pylori empirical rescue treatment, irrespective of metronidazole resistance. However, relatively high incidence of adverse events in both regimens should be emphasized.

Efficacy and safety of modified tetracycline dosing in a quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori: A retrospective single center study

BACKGROUND

Although highly effective as a component of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment regimen, tetracycline is associated with a high incidence of medication-related adverse events. Modified dosing of tetracycline as part of quadruple therapy may improve safety while providing comparable eradication rates.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified dosing of tetracycline in patients receiving tetracycline and furazolidone-containing quadruple therapy in patients with H. pylori infection.

METHODS

Consecutive patients (10/2020-12/2021) who received tetracycline and furazolidone quadruple therapy for H. pylori infection at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital were identified. All patients received tetracycline, furazolidone, proton pump inhibitor, and bismuth for 14 d as primary or rescue therapy. Modified tetracycline dose group received tetracycline 500 mg twice daily while standard group received 750 mg twice daily or 500 mg three times daily.

RESULTS

Three hundred and ninety-four patients [mean age = 46.3 ± 13.9, male = 137 (34.8%), and 309 (78.4%) primary therapy] completed tetracycline and furazolidone quadruple therapy for H. pylori infection including those who received modified tetracycline dose in 157 and standard doses in 118 (750 mg twice daily) and 119 (500 mg three times daily). Eradication rates in the modified tetracycline dose group were 92.40% and in the standard groups, eradication rates were 93.20% for 750 mg twice daily group and 92.43% for 500 mg three times daily group, respectively, without statistical difference (P = 0.959). The incidence of adverse events was lower in the modified tetracycline dose (15.3% vs 32.3% and 29.4%; P = 0.002) compared to the standard dose group.

CONCLUSION

In a real-world experience, modified tetracycline dosing as part of tetracycline and furazolidone quadruple therapy for 14 d demonstrated high efficacy, comparable to standard tetracycline dose regimens, with a favorable safety profile.

Antibiotic resistance characteristics and risk factors analysis of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients in Liaoning Province, an area in North China

Background

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) keeps rising while the eradication rate continues to decline due to the increasing antibiotic resistance. Regional variations of antimicrobial resistance to H. pylori have been recommended by guidelines in recent years. This study aims to investigate the antibiotic resistance rate of H. pylori and its association with infected subjects' characteristics in Liaoning Province, an area in north China.

Methods

Gastric tissues from 178 H. pylori positive participants without previous antibiotic use within four weeks were collected for H. pylori culture. Antibiotic susceptibility to furazolidone (AOZ), tetracycline (TC), levofloxacin (LFX), metronidazole (MET), clarithromycin (CLA), and amoxicillin (AMX) were examined with the agar dilution method. Associations between H. pylori resistance and patient characteristics were further analysed.

Results

No resistance was observed in AOZ or TC. For LFX, MET, CLA, and AMX, the overall resistance rates were 41.10%, 79.14%, 71.78%, and 22.09% respectively. There were significant differences between resistance to CLA and MALToma (P = 0.021), and between resistance to MET and age (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The primary resistant rates of LEX, MET, CLA, and AMX were relatively high in Liaoning. Treatment effectiveness improvement could be achieved by prior antimicrobial susceptibility tests before antibiotic prescription.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Patients with Penicillin Allergy

Helicobacter pylori is among the prevalent causes of infections worldwide, and its resistance rate to antibiotics has been rising over time. Amoxicillin is the cornerstone for the treatment regimen. However, the prevalence of penicillin allergy ranges from 4% to 15%. In patients with true allergy, Vonoprazan-Clarithromycin-Metronidazole and bismuth quadruple therapy have demonstrated excellent eradication and high adherence rates. Vonoprazan-based therapy is administered less frequently and may be better tolerated than bismuth quadruple therapy. Therefore, vonoprazan-based therapy may be considered as a first-line therapy if accessible. Bismuth quadruple therapy can be used as the initial therapy when vonoprazan is unavailable. Levofloxacin or sitafloxacin-based regimens achieve a moderately high eradication rate. However, these are associated with potentially serious adverse effects and should only be used when other effective and safer regimens are unavailable. Cephalosporins such as cefuroxime have been used as an alternative to amoxicillin. Microbial susceptibility studies can guide the selection of appropriate antibiotics. PPI-Clarithromycin-Metronidazole fails to achieve a high eradication rate and should be used as a second-line therapy. PPI-Clarithromycin-Rifabutin should not be used because of low eradication rate and frequent adverse reactions. The choice of the most effective antibiotic regimen can enhance clinical outcomes in patients with H. pylori infection and penicillin allergy.

[Effectiveness of empirical Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy with furazolidone in Russia: results from the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg)]

BACKGROUND

First-line therapy does not always provide a high level of Helicobacter pylori eradication due to the increase of H. pylori resistance to antibiotics; therefore, it remains necessary to identify the most effective rescue treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of empirical H. pylori furazolidone-containing regimens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult H. pylori infected patients empirically treated with furazolidone-containing eradication regimens were registered in an international, prospective, multicenter non-intervention European registry on H. pylori management (Hp-EuReg). Data were collected at AEG-REDCap e-CRF from 2013 to 2021 and the quality was reviewed. Modified intention-to-treat (mITT) effectiveness analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Overall 106 patients received empirical furazolidone-containing therapy in Russia. Furazolidone was prescribed in a sequential scheme along with amoxicillin, clarithromycin and a proton pump inhibitor in 68 (64%) cases, triple regimens were prescribed in 28 (26%) patients and quadruple regimens in 10 (9.4%). Treatment duration of 7 days was assigned to 2 (1.9%) patients, 10-day eradication therapy in case of 80 (75%) and 14 days - in 24 (23%) patients. Furazolidone was mainly used in first- (79%) and second-line (21%) regimens. The methods used to diagnose H. pylori infection were: histology (81%), stool antigen test (64%), ¹³C-urea breath test (6.6%), and rapid urease test (1.9%). The mITT effectiveness of sequential therapy was 100%; 93% with the triple therapy and 75.5% with quadruple therapy. Compliance was reported in 98% of cases. Adverse events were revealed in 5.7% of patients, mostly nausea (3.8%). No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

Furazolidone containing eradication regimens appear to be an effective and safe empirical therapy in Russia.

Single-capsule bismuth-based quadruple therapy as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is highly prevalent in Portugal and its eradication is formally recommended. However, the indiscriminate use of antimicrobials has led to a drastic rise in antibiotic resistance, with the failure of traditional eradication schemes. A single-capsule bismuth-based quadruple therapy became recently available in Portugal. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a bismuth-based quadruple therapy as a second-line or rescue therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a multicentric study. All consecutive patients that were treated with bismuth-based quadruple therapy, as second-line or salvage treatment between July 2017 and April 2019 were enrolled. Their medical records were reviewed and clinical and laboratorial parameters, as well as data on treatment efficacy and adverse events were retrieved. Patients were also contacted by phone after treatment to confirm compliance, adverse events, and global satisfaction with this specific therapy.

RESULTS

A total of 151 subjects were included (female-68.9%; mean age-56 ± 13.5 years). Patients were previously submitted to 212 eradication schemes (Median-1; 1-5; IQR:4): 33.5% triple clarithromycin-based, 25% sequential, 7.5% concomitant, 5.2% others, and in 28.8% it was not possible to know the previous eradication scheme(s) followed by the patient. The PPI of choice was esomeprazole (39.7%), followed by omeprazole (27.8%). Compliance was achieved in 93.4% and the overall eradication rate was 90.1% (95% CI: 84.6-94.2). Treatment-related adverse effects were experienced by 63 patients (41.7%; 95% CI: 34-49.7), being mild in 29, moderate in 19, and severe in 15. The main drawbacks of the treatment, from the patient's perspective, were the high price (47%) and the adverse effects (16.6%). Failure to eradicate H. pylori was correlated with the following: previous rifabutin-based scheme (0 vs. 100%; p = 0.010) and a higher number of previous treatment schemes (1.5 ± 0.7 vs. 2.3 ± 1.2; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In this South-European country a single-capsule bismuth-based quadruple therapy is an excellent option as a second-line or rescue therapy, with acceptable compliance and side effects.

Updated the Maastricht VI/Florence Consensus recommendations for the treatment of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> infection: A review

The new Maastricht VI/Florence Consensus clarifies a number of provisions that were previously under discussion. It has been postulated that Helicobacter pylori infection always causes gastritis, regardless of symptoms or complications. Before making a convincing diagnosis of functional dyspepsia, it is necessary to exclude Helicobacters gastritis. Some provisions of the consensus, such as the test and treat tactic, require elements of a critical attitude, taking into account Russian regional conditions. About 90% of stomach cancers are due to H. pylori. Eradication of H. pylori makes it possible to prevent gastric cancer at any age in adulthood, but the effectiveness of such cancer prevention decreases with age. Bismuth quadruple therapy is preferred in the eradication therapy algorithm. Decreased value of triple treatment with clarithromycin. There is a rapid increase in H. pylori resistance to fluoroquinolones. Triple therapy with rifabutin is called the final eradication protocol.

2022 Chinese national clinical practice guideline on Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) infection is an infectious disease with a prevalence rate of up to 50% worldwide. It can cause indigestion, gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. H. pylori eradication treatment can effectively control disease progression and reduce the risk of the above conditions. However, the escalating trend of antibiotic resistance presents a global challenge for H. pylori eradication. We aim to provide guidance on pharmacological treatment of H. pylori infection.

METHODS

This clinical practice guideline is developed following the World Health Organization's recommended process, adopting Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation in assessing evidence quality, and utilizing Evidence to Decision framework to formulate clinical recommendations, minimizing bias and increasing transparency of the clinical practice guideline development process. We used the Reporting Items for practice Guidelines in HealThcare (RIGHT) statement and The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) as reporting and conduct guides to ensure the guideline's completeness and transparency.

RESULTS

Though decreasing in developed countries, the prevalence of H. pylori remains high in developing countries, causing a major public health burden. This clinical practice guideline contains 12 recommendations concerning pharmacological treatment for H. pylori eradication. Among them, it is worth highlighting that bismuth preparations are inexpensive, safe, and effective, consequently making bismuth quadruple therapy a preferred choice for initial and rescue treatment. In empirical treatment, high-dose dual therapy is equally effective compared with bismuth quadruple therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The 12 recommendations in this clinical practice guideline are formed with consideration for stakeholders' values and preferences, resource use, feasibility, and acceptability. Recommendations are generalizable to resource limited settings with similar antibiotic resistance pattern as China, and lower middle-income countries facing comparable sociological and technical challenges.

REGISTRATION

Guidelines International Network (GIN) website, https://guidelines.ebmportal.com/node/69996 .

A Comparison of Doxycycline and Amoxicillin Containing Quadruple Eradication Therapy for Treating Helicobacter pylori-Infected Duodenal Ulcers: A Multicenter, Opened, Randomized Controlled Trial in China

Background: Increased antibiotic resistance is one of the major factors contributing to the failure of H. pylori eradication. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of doxycycline and amoxicillin, both critical components for bismuth-based quadruple therapy, for the first-line treatment of H. pylori-infected duodenal ulcers. Methods: An open, randomized case-controlled, multicenter trial was conducted in seven hospitals in China. A total of 184 eligible participants were divided into an IDFB (ilaprazole 5 mg, doxycycline 100 mg, furazolidone 100 mg, and bismuth 220 mg bid) or IAFB (ilaprazole 5 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, furazolidone 100 mg, and bismuth 220 mg bid) group for 14 days. Both groups were administrated with ilaprazole 5 mg qd for another 14 days. The main outcome was an H. pylori eradication rate; secondary outcomes were ulcer healing, relief of symptoms, and incidence of adverse effects. Results: The H. pylori eradication rates were 85.9% (95% CI 78.6−93.9) in the IDFB vs. 84.8% (95% CI 77.3−92.3) in the IAFB group in ITT analysis (p > 0.05), and 92.9% (95% CI 87.4−98.5) vs. and 91.8% (95% CI 85.8−97.7) in PP analysis (p > 0.05). The overall ulcer healing rates of IDFB and IAFB were 79.1% and 84.7% (p > 0.05), both effective in relieving symptoms. Only nine participants had adverse reactions in this trial (4/92 in IDFB and 5/92 in IAFB). Conclusion: A bismuth quadruple regimen containing doxycycline or amoxicillin could be an effective and safe treatment for H. pylori eradication, while doxycycline replacement is an alternative for participants with penicillin allergy.

Application of a WeChat-based mini-app as a patient reminder in Helicobacter pylori eradication: a prospective multi-center randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

To improve the eradication rate of H. pylori, researchers have investigated the role of WeChat-based mini-app as an electronic reminding system in H. pylori treatment.

METHODS

Subjects from three medical centers were divided into two groups. Patients in the daily mini-app-based notification system group received daily notifications via the WeChat mini-app. Patients in the control group received one-time verbal education on the first clinical visit. Both groups received a 14-day quadruple therapy to eradicate H. pylori infection. Eradication rate, compliance, adverse events and satisfaction were evaluated.

RESULTS

Both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses were conducted. The eradication rate in the daily mini-app-based notification system group was slightly higher compared with the control group (ITT analysis: 76.70% vs. 70.73%, p = 0.312; PP analysis: 85.87% vs. 82.86%, p = 0.562). The compliance was significantly higher in the daily mini-app-based notification system group (ITT analysis: 85.52% vs. 70.48%, p = 0.028; PP analysis: 92.39% vs. 81.90%, p = 0.030). The adverse event rates were similar between the two groups (PP analysis: 36.96% vs. 40.95%, p = 0.566). No significant difference in eradication rate was seen in each subgroup analysis by age, place of residence, grade of education, or endoscopic findings.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that daily mini-app-based notification improved patient compliance but not H. pylori eradication rate. Trial registration The research was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2000031011, 21/03/2020).

Reassessment of the Broth Microdilution Method for Susceptibility Testing of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection is an infectious disease and thus the eradication treatment should be guided by susceptibility testing. This study aimed to assess the applicability of broth microdilution as a routine susceptibility testing method for H. pylori.

METHODS

Susceptibility profiles of clarithromycin (CLR) and levofloxacin (LEV) resistance in 76 clinical H. pylori isolates were simultaneously assessed using agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. The correlation between the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) obtained by the 2 methods was assessed by means of linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The correlation between the MICs determined by broth microdilution method and agar dilution method was good for both CLR (r = 0.966) and LEV (r = 0.959). The susceptibility agreement between the 2 methods was 100% for CLR and 96.1% for LEV. Using the broth microdilution method, the false resistance was found in 3.9% (3 of 76) strains for LEV susceptibility testing. No false susceptibility was found for either CLR or LEV, and no false resistance was found for susceptibility testing of CLR.

CONCLUSIONS

The broth microdilution method is suitable for routine susceptibility testing of clinical H. pylori isolates.

The management of Helicobacter pylori infection and prevention and control of gastric cancer in China

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, a type-1 carcinogen, was closely associated with gastric cancer (GC). Successfully eradicating H. pylori infection could reduce the incidence of GC. China was a country with high incidence of GC and high prevalence of H. pylori infection. Nearly half of worldwide GC new cases and deaths attributed to H. pylori infection occurred in China. H. pylori prevalence varied over time with the improvement of socioeconomic status and sanitary conditions. The knowledge of antibiotic resistance rate in time was important to guide the clinical choice of antibiotics use in the regimens. With the publication of five Chinese consensus reports on the management of H. pylori infection and the effort of public preach of H. pylori-related knowledge, the standardization of H. pylori diagnosis and treatment by clinicians was improved. Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy was widely applied in clinical practice of H. pylori eradication because of high efficacy and safety. High-dose Proton Pump Inhibitor-amoxicillin dual therapy or vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy showed comparable efficacy and lower side effects than bismuth-containing quadruple therapy, which were the alternative choice. The diagnosis rate of early GC was low and distinguishing Chinese GC risk population for the further endoscopy screening was important. Efforts have been done to establish prediction models to stratify GC risk in the Chinese GC risk population. We reviewed the current situation of the management of H. pylori infection and prevention and control of GC in China here.

Multiple Bismuth Quadruple Therapy Containing Tetracyclines Combined with Other Antibiotics and Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy

Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is closely associated with the development of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. However, the resistance rate of H. pylori strains to antibiotics such as clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin has increased significantly, resulting in a significant decrease in the eradication efficacy of commonly used regimens. Tetracycline has received the attention of domestic and foreign scholars because of its low resistance. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the tetracycline-containing bismuth quadruple eradication therapy for H. pylori infection and review the efficacy and safety of the regimens, hoping to provide guidance for clinical practice.

Empirical Second-Line Therapy in 5000 Patients of the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg)

BACKGROUND & AIMS

After a first Helicobacter pylori eradication attempt, approximately 20% of patients will remain infected. The aim of the current study was to assess the effectiveness and safety of second-line empiric treatment in Europe.

METHODS

This international, multicenter, prospective, non-interventional registry aimed to evaluate the decisions and outcomes of H pylori management by European gastroenterologists. All infected adult cases with a previous eradication treatment attempt were registered with the Spanish Association of Gastroenterology-Research Electronic Data Capture until February 2021. Patients allergic to penicillin and those who received susceptibility-guided therapy were excluded. Data monitoring was performed to ensure data quality.

RESULTS

Overall, 5055 patients received empiric second-line treatment. Triple therapy with amoxicillin and levofloxacin was prescribed most commonly (33%). The overall effectiveness was 82% by modified intention-to-treat analysis and 83% in the per-protocol population. After failure of first-line clarithromycin-containing treatment, optimal eradication (&gt;90%) was obtained with moxifloxacin-containing triple therapy or levofloxacin-containing quadruple therapy (with bismuth). In patients receiving triple therapy containing levofloxacin or moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin-bismuth quadruple treatment, cure rates were optimized with 14-day regimens using high doses of proton pump inhibitors. However, 3-in-1 single capsule or levofloxacin-bismuth quadruple therapy produced reliable eradication rates regardless of proton pump inhibitor dose, duration of therapy, or previous first-line treatment. The overall incidence of adverse events was 28%, and most (85%) were mild. Three patients developed serious adverse events (0.3%) requiring hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS

Empiric second-line regimens including 14-day quinolone triple therapies, 14-day levofloxacin-bismuth quadruple therapy, 14-day tetracycline-bismuth classic quadruple therapy, and 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy (as a single capsule) provided optimal effectiveness. However, many other second-line treatments evaluated reported low eradication rates. ClincialTrials.gov number: NCT02328131.

Susceptibility-guided vs. empirical 10-day quadruple treatment for Helicobacter pylori-infected patients: A prospective clinical trial of first-line therapy

Background

The increasing antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has resulted in a fall in cure rates. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of first-line susceptibility-guided therapy and furazolidone-based quadruple therapy for H. pylori-infected patients.

Methods

Subjects with H. pylori-infection were randomly assigned to either 10-day susceptibility-guided treatment or empiric treatment in a 2:1 ratio. Susceptibility-guided therapy was based on susceptibility to clarithromycin, and patients with susceptible strains received clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily and otherwise minocycline 100 mg twice a day was administered. Patients in the empiric therapy group was treated with furazolidone 100 mg twice a day. During treatment, all patients were given esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily, colloidal bismuth pectin 200 mg twice daily, and amoxicillin 1 g twice daily.

Results

A total of 248 patients were screened and 201 were finally included. Empiric and susceptibility-guided regimens were both successful with per-protocol eradication rates of 90.5% (57/63) vs. 88.5% (108/122) (p = 0.685) and intent-to-treat eradication rates of 85.1% (57/67) vs. 80.6% (108/134) (p = 0.435). No significant difference in eradication rates were observed among the furazolidone group, clarithromycin group and minocycline group.

Conclusion

Both susceptibility-guided therapy and quadruple therapy containing furazolidone can achieve good eradication rates. For population with a high rate of resistance, quadruple therapy containing furazolidone and bismuth may be a more practical choice for first-line treatment.

Impact of insufficient doses of medications on Helicobacter pylori eradication: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The doses of medications may influence the success of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication. This real-world observational study aimed to explore the impact of insufficient doses of medications prescribed for the bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) regimen on successful H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

We retrospectively screened the patients who were diagnosed with H. pylori infection and received BQT regimens for H. pylori eradication at our department between January 2017 and July 2020. The rate of successful H. pylori eradication was compared according to the doses of medications prescribed. Standard doses were defined according to the clinical guidelines.

RESULTS

Overall, 1054 patients were included. The rate of successful H. pylori eradication was 78.2% (824/1054). Among them, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and antibiotics were prescribed at insufficient doses in 37.0% (390/1054) and 6.7% (71/1054) of patients, respectively. Furthermore, pantoprazole (98.7% [385/390]) was the most common type of PPIs prescribed at insufficient doses, and nitroimidazoles (85.9% [61/71]) were the most common type of antibiotics prescribed at insufficient doses. Among the patients receiving colloidal bismuth pectin (CBP) (200mg tid) and standard-dose antibiotics, the rate of successful H. pylori eradication was lower in insufficient-dose PPIs group than standard-dose PPIs group (78.1% [271/347] versus 82.6% [438/530], P=0.095). Among the patients receiving CBP (200mg tid) and standard-dose PPIs, the rate of successful H. pylori eradication was significantly lower in insufficient-dose antibiotics group than standard-dose antibiotics group (37.8% [14/37] versus 82.6% [438/530], P<0.0001). Among the patients receiving CBP 200mg tid, the rate of successful H. pylori eradication was significantly lower in patients receiving both PPIs and antibiotics at insufficient doses than those at standard doses (46.4% [13/28] versus 82.6% [438/530], P<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Among the BQT regimens, PPIs and/or antibiotics, especially pantoprazole and metronidazole, are often prescribed at insufficient doses, compromising the success of H. pylori eradication.

Current guidelines for Helicobacter pylori treatment in East Asia 2022: Differences among China, Japan, and South Korea

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is highly prevalent in East Asia. The overall seroprevalence rate of H. pylori infection is 44.2% in China, 37.6%-43.2% in Japan, and 51.0% in South Korea. H. pylori can cause peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. East Asian countries have high rates of gastric cancer (age-standardized incidence rate: 20-30 per 100000). The Kyoto global consensus report emphasized that H. pylori gastritis should be considered the main cause for the development of gastric cancer. H. pylori treatment guidelines in China, Japan, and South Korea have recently been revised according to data from each of those countries. However, emerging antibiotic resistance is an important barrier to H. pylori eradication. The recommended H. pylori treatment regimens differ among those three East Asian countries. In this review, recent guidelines and up-to-date research on H. pylori treatment regimens from China, Japan, and South Korea are discussed.

Materials for restoring lost Activity: Old drugs for new bugs

The escalation of bacterial resistance to conventional medical antibiotics is a serious concern worldwide. Improvements to current therapies are urgently needed to address this problem. The synergistic combination of antibiotics with other agents is a strategic solution to combat multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Although these combinations decrease the required high dosages and therefore, reduce the toxicity of both agents without compromising the bactericidal effect, they cannot stop the development of further resistance. Recent studies have shown certain elements restore the ability of antibiotics to destroy bacteria that have acquired resistance to them. Due to these synergistic activities, organic and inorganic molecules have been investigated with the goal of restoring antibiotics in new approaches that mitigate the risk of expanding resistance. Herein, we summarize recent studies that restore antibiotics once thought to be ineffective, but have returned to our armamentarium through innovative, combinatorial efforts. A special focus is placed on the mechanisms that allow the synergistic combinations to combat bacteria. The promising data that demonstrated restoration of antimicrobials, supports the notion to find more combinations that can combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

V Spanish Consensus Conference on Helicobacter pylori infection treatment

Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in the Spanish population and represents the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. The last iteration of Spanish consensus guidelines on H. pylori infection was conducted in 2016. Recent changes in therapeutic schemes along with increasing supporting evidence were key for developing the V Spanish Consensus Conference (May 2021). Fourteen experts performed a systematic review of the scientific evidence and developed a series of recommendations that were subjected to an anonymous Delphi process of iterative voting. Scientific evidence and the strength of the recommendation were classified using GRADE guidelines. An eradication therapy, when prescribed empirically, is considered acceptable when it reliably achieves, or preferably surpass, 90% cure rates. Currently, only quadruple therapies (with or without bismuth) and generally lasting 14 days, accomplish this goal in first- and second-line therapies. A non-bismuth quadruple concomitant regimen (proton pump inhibitor, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole) or a quadruple bismuth-based combination (proton pump inhibitor, bismuth, tetracycline, and metronidazole), are recommended as first-line regimens. Rescue therapies after eradication failure and management of H. pylori infection in peptic ulcer disease were also reviewed.

Need for standardization and harmonization of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial susceptibility testing

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

As with other infectious diseases, Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens should be guided by susceptibility testing to achieve excellent success rate, especially in the era of high antibiotic resistance. However, susceptibility testing for H. pylori is rarely performed, which can be partly ascribed to the current lack of standardization of testing methods and the lack of unified consensus on the antibiotic resistance breakpoints. The aim of this review was to call for an international consensus on standardization and harmonization of H. pylori susceptibility testing.

METHODS

We summarize and compare the advantages and disadvantages of four different phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods (agar dilution, E-test, disk diffusion, and broth microdilution) and the molecular susceptibility testing method for H. pylori.

RESULTS

The standard phenotypic testing methods and the molecular testing methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. Compared to the standard phenotypic methods, the molecular testing method does not require successful H. pylori culture, and therefore, is much more rapid and convenient for clinical use. However, the currently available molecular testing method is only suitable for detecting clarithromycin and quinolone susceptibility profiles in H. pylori. Although the standard AST is time-consuming, it is currently the only way to test the susceptibility of H. pylori to all the commonly used antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

To make H. pylori susceptibility testing become a clinical routine, an international consensus on standardization and harmonization of H. pylori AST is needed. Future efforts are needed for optimizing broth culture of H. pylori, and developing commercial AST plates for achieving high throughput and automated susceptibility testing for H. pylori.

Room for Improvement in the Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Lessons from the European Registry on H. pylori Management (Hp-EuReg)

BACKGROUND

Managing Helicobacter pylori infection requires constant decision making, and each decision is open to possible errors.

AIM

The aim was to evaluate common mistakes in the eradication of H. pylori, based on the "European Registry on Helicobacter pylori management".

METHODS

European Registry on Helicobacter pylori management is an international multicentre prospective noninterventional registry evaluating the decisions and outcomes of H. pylori management by European gastroenterologists in routine clinical practice.

RESULTS

Countries recruiting more than 1000 patients were included (26,340 patients). The most common mistakes (percentages) were: (1) To use the standard triple therapy where it is ineffective (46%). (2) To prescribe eradication therapy for only 7 to 10 days (69%). (3) To use a low dose of proton pump inhibitors (48%). (4) In patients allergic to penicillin, to prescribe always a triple therapy with clarithromycin and metronidazole (38%). (5) To repeat certain antibiotics after eradication failure (>15%). (6) Failing to consider the importance of compliance with treatment (2%). (7) Not to check the eradication success (6%). Time-trend analyses showed progressive greater compliance with current clinical guidelines.

CONCLUSION

The management of H. pylori infection by some European gastroenterologists is heterogeneous, frequently suboptimal and discrepant with current recommendations. Clinical practice is constantly adapting to updated recommendations, although this shift is delayed and slow.

Helicobacter pylori diagnosis and therapy in the era of antimicrobial stewardship

The diagnosis and therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection have undergone major changes based on the use the principles of antimicrobial stewardship and increased availability of susceptibility profiling. H. pylori gastritis now recognized as an infectious disease, as such there is no placebo response allowing outcome to be assessed in relation to the theoretically obtainable cure rate of 100%. The recent recognition of H. pylori as an infectious disease has changed the focus to therapies optimized to reliably achieve high cure rates. Increasing antimicrobial resistance has also led to restriction of clarithromycin, levofloxacin, or metronidazole to susceptibility-based therapies. Covid-19 resulted in the almost universal availability of polymerase chain reaction testing in hospitals which can be repurposed to utilize readily available kits to provide rapid and inexpensive detection of clarithromycin resistance. In the United States, major diagnostic laboratories now offer H. pylori culture and susceptibility testing and American Molecular Laboratories offers next-generation sequencing susceptibility profiling of gastric biopsies or stools for the six commonly used antibiotics without need for endoscopy. Current treatment recommendations include (a) only use therapies that are reliably highly effective locally, (b) always perform a test-of-cure, and (c) use that data to confirm local effectiveness and share the results to inform the community regarding which therapies are effective and which are not. Empiric therapy should be restricted to those proven highly effective locally. The most common choices are 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy and rifabutin triple therapy. Prior guidelines and treatment recommendations should only be used if proven locally highly effective.

Clinical Recommendations of Russian Gastroenterological Association and RENDO Endoscopic Society on Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastritis and Duodenitis

Aim.The clinical guidelines are intended to supplement specialty decision-making for improved aid quality in patients with gastritis and duodenitis though acknowledging the latest clinical evidence and principles of evidencebased medicine.Key points.Gastritis is an inflammatory disease of stomach mucosa, with a separate definition of acute and chronic gastritis. Chronic gastritis is a cohort of chronic diseases uniting a typical morphology of persistent inflammatory infiltration, impaired cellular renewal with emergent intestinal metaplasia, atrophy and epithelial dysplasia of gastric mucosa. Oesophagogastroduodenoscopy (OGDS) or high-resolution OGDS with magnified or non-magnified virtual chromoendoscopy, including targeted biopsy for atrophy and intestinal metaplasia grading and neoplasia detection, are recommended to verify gastritis and duodenitis, precancer states and/or gastric mucosal changes. All chronic gastritis patients positive for H. рylori should undergo eradication therapy as aetiological and subsidiary for gastric cancer prevention. Chronic gastritis patients with symptoms of dyspepsia (epigastric pain, burning and congestion, early satiety), also combined with functional dyspepsia, are recommended proton pump inhibitors, prokinetics, rebamipide and bismuth tripotassium dicitrate in symptomatic treatment. With focal restricted intestinal metaplasia, follow-up is not required in most cases, mainly when advanced atrophic gastritis is ruled out in high-quality endoscopy with biopsy. However, a familial history of gastric cancer, incomplete intestinal metaplasia and persistent H. pylori infection render endoscopy monitoring with chromoendoscopy and targeted biopsy desirable once in three years. Patients with advanced atrophic gastritis should have high-quality endoscopy every 3 years, and once in 1–2 years if complicated with a familial history of gastric cancer.Conclusion.The recommendations condense current knowledge on the aetiology and pathogenesis of gastritis and duodenitis, as well as laboratory and instrumental diagnostic techniques, main approaches to aetiological H. pylori eradication and treatment of dyspeptic states.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in the presence of penicillin allergy

Therapy of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) requires a combination of antibiotics together with an acid suppressing agent; most treatment regimens include Amoxicillin as one of the antibiotics, which is an important constituent as resistance to it is low. However, allergies to the penicillin group of antibiotics are not uncommon, and treating H.pylori infection in such individuals can be challenging due to the restricted choice of regimens. The aim of this review is to summarise the evidence for therapeutic options in patients with H.pylori infection and penicillin allergy. A literature search was conducted in PubMed for English language publications using the key words ‘Helicobacter’ and ‘treatment’ or ‘therapy‘ and ‘penicillin’ or ‘beta-lactam’ and ‘allergy’ or ‘anaphylaxis’. Eighteen studies were identified that specifically evaluated H.pylori treatment success in penicillin allergic patients. The number of subjects in most of them was low and many were retrospective, uncontrolled, single cohort studies. The most effective option for first-line treatment appears to be Bismuth-based quadruple therapy for 10-14 d. The evidence supports second-line treatment with Levoflaxacin-based triple therapy for 10 d. Patients with persistent H.pylori infection after 2 treatment courses should be considered for testing to confirm penicillin allergy. Further treatment should be guided by the results of H.pylori culture and sensitivity testing.

Clarithromycin versus furazolidone for naïve Helicobacter pylori infected patients in a high clarithromycin resistance area

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The increase in antibiotic resistance makes the eradication of Helicobacter pylori more difficult. Considering the limitations of the application of susceptibility-guided therapy, it is important to find an effective empirical regimen. The aim of the study is to compare the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of clarithromycin-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (C-BQT) and furazolidone-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (F-BQT) in naïve H. pylori positive patients.

METHODS

This was an open-label, randomized controlled, crossover trial. The trial comprised two phases. In C-F group, patients received C-BQT in the first phase; those who were still positive for H. pylori infection after the first phase entered the second phase to receive F-BQT as rescue treatment. In F-C group, patients were treated with F-BQT firstly and rescued with C-BQT.

RESULTS

As first-line treatments, the eradication rates of C-BQT and F-BQT were 89.7% (157/175) and 92.0% (161/175) (P = 0.458) in intention-to-treat analysis and 93.4% (156/167) and 95.8% (161/168) (P = 0.327) in per-protocol analysis, respectively. The cumulative eradication rates of the C-F group and the F-C group were both 94.3% in intention-to-treat analysis (P = 1.000). Cost-effectiveness indexes of F-BQT and C-BQT were 0.54 and 1.24 in first-line treatments. Frequencies of adverse events in F-BQT and C-BQT had no differences (36.0% in C-BQT vs 32.6% in F-BQT, P = 0.499).

CONCLUSIONS

Furazolidone-based bismuth-containing quadruple therapy should be preferred for its excellent cost-effectiveness and acceptable safety.

Rescue Therapy with Furazolidone in Patients with at Least Five Eradication Treatment Failures and Multi-Resistant H. pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori infection may persist after multiple eradication treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a furazolidone-based rescue regimen in hyper-refractory patients. A unicentre, prospective study was designed. Patients in whom five or more treatments had consecutively failed were included. All patients had previously received bismuth and key antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, tetracycline, and rifabutin, and had positive H. pylori culture, demonstrating resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin. A quadruple regimen with furazolidone (200 mg), amoxicillin (1 g), bismuth (240 mg), and esomeprazole (40 mg) was prescribed twice a day for 14 days. Eradication was confirmed by the stool antigen test. Compliance was determined through questioning, and adverse effects using a questionnaire. Eight patients (mean age 56 years, 63% men, 38% peptic ulcer disease, 12% gastric cancer precursor lesions, and 50% functional dyspepsia) were included. Per-protocol and intention-to-treat eradication rates were 63%. Compliance was 100%. Adverse effects were reported in two (25%) patients, and all were mild. Even after five or more previous H. pylori eradication failures, and a multi-resistant infection, rescue treatment with furazolidone may be effective in approximately two-thirds of the cases, constituting a valid strategy after multiple previous eradication failures with key antibiotics such as clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and rifabutin.

Two Different 1-Week Quadruple Therapies Given Back-to-Back Consecutive Therapy for Difficult-to-Treat Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

We aim to evaluate the efficacy of 2 different 1-week quadruple therapies given back-to-back consecutive therapy in patients with difficult-to-treat Helicobacter pylori infection.

METHODS

Patients with proven H. pylori infection were recruited after >3 failed standard quadruple eradication. They received consecutive therapy consisting of esomeprazole 40 mg or rabeprazole 20 mg twice daily, amoxicillin 1,000 mg twice daily, tetracycline 500 mg 4 times daily, and furazolidone 100 mg 3 times daily for the first 7 days, followed by colloidal bismuth pectin 200 mg twice daily in place of furazolidone 100 mg for another 7 days. Eradication rates, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), and compliance were assessed.

RESULTS

Sixty-five patients were enrolled. The mean number of previous eradications was 3.6 (range: 3-7). The intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 90.8% (59/65) and 95.1% (58/61). In total, 23.4% (15/64) of patients experienced drug-related TEAEs. No serious adverse events were observed. None of the patients required treatment for TEAEs, and 95.3% (61/64) showed good compliance. Overall, 51 patients (78.5%) were with the available antimicrobial susceptibility testing results. The resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin were 60.8% (31/51), 100% (51/51), 70.6% (36/51), and 2.0% (1/51), respectively. No resistance was detected to either furazolidone or tetracycline. However, in 54.9% of patients (28/51), H. pylori was resistant to 3 antibiotics (metronidazole, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin).

DISCUSSION

Consecutive therapy, including amoxicillin, tetracycline, and furazolidone, achieved a good eradication rate (>90%), with desirable compliance and tolerability in difficult-to-treat H. pylori infection.

The effect of previous eradication failure on antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori: A retrospective study over 8 years in Beijing

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance is the main cause of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment failure. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of antibiotic resistance of H. pylori isolates in Beijing in the last 8 years and to estimate the impact of previous eradication failure on resistance patterns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included data from a single center in Beijing from 2013 to 2020. Antibiotic susceptibility of 365 clinical H. pylori isolates was tested for amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and tetracycline. The characteristics of the included patients and their previous eradication history were collected. Primary and secondary resistance rates of H. pylori to the six antibiotics and the impact of previous eradication failure on antibiotic resistance patterns were analyzed.

RESULTS

The overall primary resistance rates of amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and tetracycline were 0.7%, 55.2%, 68.0%, 49.7%, 64.5%, and 0%, with no significant increase during the observed period; while the secondary resistance rates were 3.2%, 96.7%, 90.7%, 93.1%, 80.0%, and 0%, respectively. The secondary resistance rate of clarithromycin (p < .001), metronidazole (p = .001), and levofloxacin (p < .001) significantly increased to 100% as the number of previous eradication therapies increased and exhibited a linear association. For strains naive to eradication, only 6.8% were susceptible to all the antibiotics, while 32.4% were single resistant, and 60.8% dual or multiple resistant. Clarithromycin+metronidazole+fluoroquinolone multiple resistance was the predominant pattern (0 course: 21.6%, 1 course: 37.5%, 2 courses: 56.1%, ≥3 courses: 71.1%; p < .001) for patients with treatment failure. The prevalence of dual or multiple-resistance patterns increased significantly as the number of previous therapies increased.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of primary and secondary resistance rates of clarithromycin, metronidazole, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin were high in Beijing. Multiple-resistance patterns were common after treatment failure. Resistance rates of amoxicillin and tetracycline remained low and stable.

The status and progress of first-line treatment against Helicobacter pylori infection: a review

Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a major causative agent of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer. HP is also engaged in the development of gastric cancer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. It is an important pathogenic factor in various other systemic diseases, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, iron deficiency, and idiopathic thrombocytopenia. The current consensus is that unless there is a special reason, eradication therapy should be implemented whenever HP infection is found, and it is ideally successful the first time. International guidelines recommend that under certain conditions, treatment should be personalized based on drug susceptibility testing. However, drug susceptibility testing is often not available because it is expensive, time-consuming, and difficult to obtain living tissue. Each region has separately formulated guidelines or consensuses on empirical therapy. Owing to an increasing drug resistance rate in various places, the eradication rate of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) triple therapy and sequential therapy has been affected. These regimens are rarely used; the PPI triple especially has been abandoned in most areas. Currently, radical treatment regimens for HP involve bismuth-containing quadruple therapy and concomitant therapy. However, quadruple therapy has its own limitations, such as complex drug administration. To improve the effectiveness, safety, and compliance, many clinical studies have proposed useful modified regimens, which mainly include the modified bismuth-containing quadruple regimen, high-dose dual therapy, and vonoprazan-containing regimens. Studies have shown that these emerging regimens have acceptable eradication rates and safety, and are expected to become first-line treatments in empirical therapy. However, the problem of decline in the eradication rate caused by drug resistance has not been fundamentally solved. This review not only summarizes the effectiveness of mainstream regimens in the first-line treatment of HP infection with the currently increasing antibiotic resistance rates, but also summarizes the effectiveness and safety of various emerging treatment regimens.

The appropriate cutoff gastric pH value for Helicobacter pylori eradication with bismuth-based quadruple therapy

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate whether an increased proton pump inhibitor (PPI) dose enhanced the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and determine the appropriate cutoff intragastric pH value that could predict H. pylori eradication with bismuth-based quadruple therapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 207 H. pylori infected, treatment naive patients were enrolled in this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly allocated into Eso40-group (esomeprazole 40 mg bid) and Eso20-group (esomeprazole 20 mg bid), and their CYP2C19 genotyping status was assessed. The 24-h intragastric pH monitoring on day 7 was performed, and percentage of time gastric pH ≥ 3, ≥4, ≥5, and ≥6 (pH holding time ratios; HTRs) were measured. H. pylori eradication was evaluated using ¹³ C-urea breath test.

RESULTS

No significant difference in the eradication rates was observed between two groups. The median 24-h intragastric pH value was not significant different between two groups but the Eso40 Group had a significant higher pH4 HTRs (91.11% [95%CI: 87.50%-95.83%] vs. 95.83% [95.83%-100%]; p = .002). Additionally, the median 24-h intragastric pH value showed significantly difference between two groups in EM genotype (Eso20 Group 6.00 [95%CI; 5.75-6.15] vs. Eso40 Group 6.30 [6.05-6.30]; p = .019). Similar results were observed in pH4 HTRs. There were significant differences in intragastric pH value (6.10 [95%CI: 4.40-7.00] vs. 5.65 [4.85-5.95], p = .038) and in pH4 HTRs (96% [95%CI: 92.00%-96.00%] vs. 87.5% [67.00%-100.0%], p = .019) between eradication-successful and eradication-failed patients. Statistical analysis suggested that the median intragastric pH = 5.7 could identify the success of H. pylori eradication.

CONCLUSIONS

Bismuth-based quadruple therapy resulted in high H. pylori eradication rates either in PPI standard or double doses. Double dose of esomeprazole is associated with better intragastric acid suppression. A median 24-h intragastric pH of 5.7 could be appropriate cutoff value for predicting the successful H. pylori eradication.

Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated From Pediatric Patients in Southwest China

The number of antibiotics that are appropriate for Helicobacter pylori eradication in children is limited. Profiling regional or population-specific antibiotic resistance is essential in guiding the H. pylori eradication treatment in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance in H. pylori strains isolated from children and adolescents in Southwest China. Gastric biopsies from 157 pediatric patients with or without previous H. pylori eradication treatment were collected for H. pylori culture. Susceptibility to amoxicillin (AML), clarithromycin (CLR), metronidazole (MTZ), levofloxacin (LEV), tetracycline (TET), furazolidone (FZD), and rifampicin (RIF) was determined by E-test or a disk diffusion assay. A total of 87 patients from three ethnic groups (Han/Tibetan/Yi) were H. pylori culture positive (55.4%). The overall resistance rates were 55.2% for CLR, 71.3% for MTZ, 60.9% for RIF, and 18.4% for LEV. No isolate was found to be resistant to AML, TET, and FZD. Among the 53 treatment-naïve pediatric patients, primary resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and rifampicin were 45.3, 73.6, 15.1, and 60.4%, respectively. Among the 34 treatment-experienced patients, secondary resistance rates to clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and rifampicin were 70.6, 67.6, 23.5, and 61.8%, respectively. Isolates exhibiting simultaneous resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole were 28.3 and 52.9% among the treatment-naïve and treatment-experienced patients, respectively. In conclusion, among pediatric patients in Southwest China, resistance rates were high for clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and rifampicin, whereas nil resistance was found to amoxicillin, tetracycline, and furazolidone. Our data suggest that the standard clarithromycin-based triple therapy should be abandoned as empiric therapy, whereas the bismuth quadruple therapy (bismuth/PPI/amoxicillin/tetracycline) would be suitable as first-line empiric treatment regimen for this pediatric population. Tetracycline and furazolidone may be considered for treating refractory H. pylori infections in adolescent patients.

Safety of furazolidone-containing regimen in Helicobacter pylori infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Furazolidone containing regimen is effectivefor Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, but its safetyremains controversial. To assess the safety of furazolidone containing regimenin H. pylori infection.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Scopus databases were systematically searched for eligible randomised controlled trials.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Studies comparing furazolidone with non-furazolidone-containing regimen, variable durations or doses of furazolidone were included.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. Primary outcomes were the risk of total adverse events (AEs), serious AEs and severe AEs, expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% CI. Secondary outcomes contained the incidence of individual adverse symptoms, AE-related treatment discontinuation and compliance.

RESULTS

Twenty-six articles were identified from 2039 searched records, of which 14 studies (n=2540) compared furazolidone with other antibiotics. The eradication rates of furazolidone-containing regimen were higher than those of other antibiotics in both intention-to-treat (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12) and per-protocol analysis (RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.10). Only two serious AEs were reported in furazolidone group (2/1221, 0.16%). No significant increased risk was observed for the incidence of total AEs (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.21) and severe AEs (RR 1.81, 95% CI 0.91 to 3.60). Twelve studies (n=3139) compared different durations of furazolidone, and four studies (n=343) assessed variable doses. Elevated risk of total AEs and severe AEs were only found in a high daily dose of furazolidone rather than prolonged duration. The incidence of AE-related treatment discontinuation and compliance of patients were all similar, irrespective of dose and duration adjustments.

CONCLUSION

Furazolidone-containing regimen has a similar risk of AEs and compliance as non-furazolidone-containing regimen. A low daily dose of 200 mg is well-tolerated for 14 day regimen and should be first considered.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42019137247.

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.

Long-term changes in the gut microbiota after 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy in penicillin-allergic children

BACKGROUND

Penicillin-allergic children who are infected with Helicobacter pylori constitute a relatively common subgroup. We aimed to study the short-term and long-term effects of bismuth quadruple therapy on gut microbiota in penicillin-allergic children.

METHODS

We prospectively recruited treatment-naive children with H pylori infection and H pylori-negative asymptomatic children as healthy controls. Patients received 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy consisting of omeprazole, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and bismuth. Fecal samples were collected at weeks 0, 2, 6, and 52. Alterations in the gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

RESULTS

Twenty-two subjects (14 gastritis patients, 8 duodenal ulcer patients) and 23 controls participated in this study. At week 2, alpha diversity was reduced in both gastritis (P < .05) and ulcer (except P = .16 with Chao 1 index) patients compared with baseline. Some changes persisted at week 6, and all were restored at week 52. Beta diversity was significantly altered 2 weeks after treatment in the gastritis and duodenal ulcer groups (P = .001, P = .002, respectively) and restored at weeks 6 and 52. The mean relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (P < .001, P = .005, respectively) decreased and that of Proteobacteria increased (P < .001, P = .03, respectively). All alterations recovered at week 6 and 52. In both the gastritis and ulcer groups at week 2, some beneficial bacteria were decreased including Bacteroides (P < .001 and P = .003), Faecalibacterium (P < .001 and P = .02), Phascolarctobacterium (P = .002 and P = .004), Roseburia ( P < .001 and P = .13), Bifidobacterium (P = .08 and P = .04), and Blautia (P < .001 and P = .002). Some detrimental bacteria were increased including Escherichia-Shigella (P < .001 and P = .19), Klebsiella (P < .001, and P = .09), Enterococcus (P < .001 and P = .007), and Streptococcus (P = .002 and P = .004). The changes returned to almost the pre-eradication level 1 year after therapy.

CONCLUSION

Bismuth quadruple therapy causes short-term dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. Most changes recovered 1-year post-eradication, indicating the long-term safety of H pylori therapy.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori among a Chinese Tibetan population

Aim: To evaluate the primary antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from a Chinese Tibetan population. Methods & materials: Gastric biopsies from 400 H. pylori treatment-naive Tibetan patients were collected for H. pylori isolation. Susceptibility to amoxicillin (AML)/clarithromycin (CLR)/levofloxacin (LEV)/metronidazole (MTZ)/tetracycline (TET)/rifampicin (RIF)/furazolidone (FZD) was determined by E-test or a disk diffusion assay. Results: Biopsies from 117 patients were H. pylori culture positive (29.3%). The primary resistance rates to MTZ, CLR, LEV, RIF, AML, TET and FZD were 90.6, 44.4, 28.2, 69.2, 7.7, 0.8 and 0.8%, respectively. Interestingly, 42.7% of the strains had simultaneous resistance to CLR and MTZ. Conclusion: Among Tibetan strains, primary resistance rates were high for CLR/MTZ/LEV, whereas primary resistance rates to AML/TET/FZD were low. The high resistance to RIF is a concerning finding.

Amoxicillin or tetracycline in bismuth-containing quadruple therapy as first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM

To compare the efficacy and safety between modified quadruple- and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy as first-line eradication regimen for Helicobacter pylori infection.

METHODS

This study was a multicenter, randomized-controlled, non-inferiority trial. Subjects endoscopically diagnosed with H. pylori infection were randomly allocated to receive modified quadruple- (rabeprazole 20 mg bid, amoxicillin 1 g bid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, bismuth subcitrate 300 mg qid [elemental bismuth 480 mg]; PAMB) or bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (rabeprazole 20 mg bid, bismuth subcitrate 300 mg qid, metronidazole 500 mg tid, tetracycline 500 mg qid; PBMT) for 14 days. Rates of eradication success and adverse events were investigated. Antibiotic resistance was determined using the agar dilution and DNA sequencing of the clarithromycin resistance point mutations in the 23 S rRNA gene of H. pylori.

RESULTS

In total, 233 participants were randomized, 27 were lost to follow-up, and four violated the protocol. Both regimens showed an acceptable eradication rate in the intention-to-treat (PAMB: 87.2% vs. PBMT: 82.8%, P = .37), modified intention-to-treat (96.2% vs. 96%, P > .99), and per-protocol (96.2% vs. 96.9%, P > .99) analyses. Non-inferiority in the eradication success between PAMB and PBMT was confirmed. The amoxicillin-, metronidazole-, tetracycline-, clarithromycin-, and levofloxacin-resistance rates were 8.3, 40, 9.4, 23.5, and 42.2%, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance did not significantly affect the efficacy of either therapy. Overall compliance was 98.1%. Adverse events were not significantly different between the two therapies.

CONCLUSION

Modified quadruple therapy comprising rabeprazole, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and bismuth is an effective first-line treatment for the H. pylori infection in regions with high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance.

Susceptibility-guided therapy for Helicobacter pylori-infected penicillin-allergic patients: A prospective clinical trial of first-line and rescue therapies

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) treatment remains a challenge for penicillin-allergic patients.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of susceptibility-guided first-line and rescue treatment in H pylori-infected penicillin-allergic patients.

METHODS

Consecutive H pylori-infected patients with penicillin allergy received a 14-day triple or quadruple therapy based on susceptibility to clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole. All received esomeprazole 20 mg twice a day. Metronidazole-susceptible infections received metronidazole plus clarithromycin or levofloxacin triple therapy if susceptible. Clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant infections received metronidazole plus tetracycline triple therapy. Metronidazole-resistant infections received a bismuth-high-dose metronidazole plus clarithromycin or levofloxacin quadruple therapy. Triple-resistant infections received classical bismuth quadruple therapy with high-dose metronidazole. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed using the E test method.

RESULTS

112 patients were entered (34.8% men, average 47.1 years). Infections in 83.8% (31/37) of treatment-naive subjects and 12.0% (9/75) (P < .001) receiving rescue treatment were susceptible to at least one of the three tested antibiotics. Overall, susceptibility-guided therapy achieved eradication rates of 92.9% (104/112, 95% CI 88.1%-97.7%) by intent-to-treat analysis and 99% (100/101, 95% CI 97.1%-100%) by per-protocol analysis. All regimens achieved eradication rates greater than 90% (P = .327) in the PP populations. Adverse events were relatively frequent; however, compliance remained high.

CONCLUSION

Susceptibility-guided therapy proved highly effective for penicillin-allergic patients. When available and proven locally effective, the alternative was empiric classical bismuth quadruple therapy. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03708848.

Optimizing the MIC breakpoints of amoxicillin and tetracycline for antibiotic selection in the rescue therapy of H. pylori with bismuth quadruple regimen

PURPOSE

H. pylori with triple-drug resistance (TR) to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin limits the success of rescue therapy. We aimed to identify the optimal breakpoints of antibiotic minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) to predict the success of rescue therapy for TR H. pylori infection.

METHODS

We consecutively enrolled 430 patients with at least one course of failed H. pylori eradications to receive an H. pylori culture for antibiotic MIC test. Seventy-three (17%) had TR H. pylori infection (MIC of clarithromycin > 0.5, levofloxacin > 1, and metronidazole > 8 mg/L, respectively). Sixty-nine cases with TR H. pylori infection received rescue therapy with either ATBP (amoxicillin, tetracycline, bismuth, and PPI) or MTBP (metronidazole, tetracycline, bismuth and PPI) for 7-14 days. Fourteen patients with positive ¹³C-urea breath test after the first rescue therapy were retreated with a crossover second rescue therapy.

RESULTS

The MTBP regimen had higher eradication success than the ATBP regimen as the first rescue therapy for TR H. pylori (intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis, 70.3 vs. 46.9%, p = 0.048; per protocol (PP) analysis, 78.8% vs. 51.7%, p = 0.025). For MTBP regimen, tetracycline MIC ≤ 0.094 mg/L (p < 0.001) with a 14-day treatment duration (p = 0.037) could predict eradication success with 100% accuracy. For the ATBP regimen, amoxicillin MIC selected as ≤ 0.032 mg/L could optimally determine eradication success (72.2 vs. 33.3%, p = 0.025).

CONCLUSION

Optimizing the MIC breakpoints of amoxicillin and tetracycline resistance better predicts the outcome of bismuth quadruple therapy. Further prospective studies using the revised MIC breakpoints to select antibiotics are warranted.

Susceptibility-guided bismuth quadruple therapies for resistant Helicobacter pylori infections

Increasing Helicobacter pylori resistance to antibiotics has ledthat molecular testing is appropriate as a sub to adoption of seven different bismuth quadruple therapies (BQT) in China without differentiation of first-line or second-line regimens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of susceptibility-guided BQT for patients who had experienced previous treatment failures. A total of 133 patients was included and H. pylori was successfully cultured from 101 patients (75.9%) for subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Based on the AST results, 88 patients completed one of five AST-guided 14-day BQT regimens: esomeprazole and bismuth colloidal pectin, along with either, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (EBAC), amoxicillin and levofloxacin (EBAL), amoxicillin and furazolidone (EBAF), amoxicillin and tetracycline (EBAT), or tetracycline and furazolidone (EBTF). H. pylori eradication rates were 100% for EBAC (5/5), EBAL (13/13), EBAF (14/14), and EBTF (43/43), but 76.9% for EBAT (10/13). The three patients that failed the EBAT regimen were all cured after subsequent treatment with the EBTF regimen. Our study demonstrates the excellent efficacy of the AST-guided BQT for referred H. pylori patients, and that the current EBAT regimen, used in clinics, needs to be optimized. In addition, 57 of the isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Analysis of the sequences revealed that point mutations in 23S rRNA correlated well with the phenotypic clarithromycin resistance with a concordance of 91.2%, while the concordance between phenotypic levofloxacin resistance and gyrA point mutations was 82.3%. This suggests that molecular testing is appropriate as a substitute for AST as a more rapid and cost-effective method for determining clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistance in Chinese patients.

Bismuth(III) Flavonolates: The Impact of Structural Diversity on Antibacterial Activity, Mammalian Cell Viability and Cellular Uptake

A series of homoleptic and heteroleptic bismuth(III) flavonolate complexes derived from six flavonols of varying substitution have been synthesised and structurally characterised. The complexes were evaluated for antibacterial activity towards several problematic Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE)) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. The cell viability of COS-7 (monkey kidney) cells treated with the bismuth flavonolates was also studied to determine the effect of the complexes on mammalian cells. The heteroleptic complexes [BiPh(L)₂ ] (in which L=flavonolate) showed good antibacterial activity towards all of the bacteria but reduced COS-7 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The homoleptic complexes [Bi(L)₃ ] exhibited activity towards the Gram-positive bacteria and showed low toxicity towards the mammalian cell line. Bismuth uptake studies in VRE and COS-7 cells treated with the bismuth flavonolate complexes indicated that Bi accumulation is influenced by both the substitution of the flavonolate ligands and the degree of substitution at the bismuth centre.

A randomized, multicenter and noninferiority study of amoxicillin plus berberine vs tetracycline plus furazolidone in quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori rescue treatment

OBJECTIVE

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is closely associated with gastric ulcers and gastric adenocarcinomas. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a quadruple regimen with amoxicillin plus berberine vs tetracycline plus furazolidone in rescue therapy for H. pylori eradication.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized, open-label, multicenter, noninferiority trial. Patients with previous treatment failures recruited from five centers were randomized (1:1) to receive a regimen with esomeprazole and bismuth plus either berberine and amoxicillin (the BA group) or tetracycline and furazolidone (the TF group) for 14 days. Their H. pylori infection status was confirmed 4-8 weeks after treatment. The primary outcome was the eradication rate. The secondary outcomes included the rates of symptom improvement, compliance, and adverse events. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03609892).

RESULTS

Altogether 658 participants were consecutively enrolled. An intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated that the two regimens achieved a similar eradication rate (76.3% vs 77.5%; P = 0.781). The per-protocol analysis reached a similar result (81.5% vs 85.0%; P = 0.278). The eradication rate reached in the BA group was greater than the pre-established margin of noninferiority, at -10% (the lower bounds of the 95% CI were -7.66% and -9.43%, respectively). The rate of adverse events was lower for the BA group than the TF group (18.5% vs 26.1%, P = 0.024). Rates of compliance and symptom improvement were similar for the two therapies.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of both regimens in rescue treatment for H. pylori eradication was satisfactory, 14-day BA-based quadruple therapy is noninferior to the TF-based therapy.

Treatment with compound Lactobacillus acidophilus followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND/AIM

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections has become more difficult because of increasing antibiotic resistance. We assessed the efficacy and safety of treatment with probiotics followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen as rescue treatment for H. pylori infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study examined patients with at least two H. pylori eradication failures. Patients were given a two-week compound Lactobacillus acidophilus (1 g t.i.d.), followed by a quadruple antibiotic regimen (esomeprazole [20 mg b.i.d.] + bismuth potassium citrate [220 mg b.i.d.] + tetracycline [750 mg b.i.d.] + furazolidone [100 mg b.i.d.]) for 10 days as rescue therapy. Eradication was evaluated using the^[13]C-urea breath test at 4 weeks after the end of therapy, and side effects were recorded.

RESULTS

The records of 50 patients were examined. Four cases experienced treatment failure, and one case received replacement with metronidazole because of allergy to furazolidone. The eradication rate was 92.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 84.0-98.0%) in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 91.8% (95% CI: 83.7-98.0%) in per protocol (PP) analysis. Side effects (mainly dizziness, dry mouth, and skin rash) occurred in 10 patients, all of which resolved after cessation of antibiotics.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who failed multiple attempts at H. pylori eradication may benefit from a treatment with probiotics followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen.