Triple therapy with high-dose proton-pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and doxycycline is useless for Helicobacter pylori eradication: a proof-of-concept study

Investigator Initiated Clinical Trials (IICTs): A Systematic Search in Registries to Compare the Czech Republic and Portugal in Terms of Funding Policies and Scientific Outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Clinical trials provide one of the highest levels of evidence to support medical practice. Investigator initiated clinical trials (IICTs) answer relevant questions in clinical practice that may not be addressed by industry. For the first time, two European Countries are compared in terms of IICTs, respective funders and publications, envisaging to inspire others to use similar indicators to assess clinical research outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective systematic search of registered IICTs from 2004 to 2017, using four clinical trials registries was carried out in two European countries with similar population, GDP, HDI and medical schools but with different governmental models to fund clinical research. Each IICT was screened for sponsors, funders, type of intervention and associated publications, once completed.

RESULTS

IICTs involving the Czech Republic and Portugal were n = 439 (42% with hospitals as sponsors) and n = 328 (47% with universities as sponsors), respectively. The Czech Republic and Portuguese funding agencies supported respectively 61 and 27 IICTs. Among these, trials with medicinal products represent 52% in Czech Republic and 4% in Portugal. In the first, a higher percentage of IICTs' publications in high impact factor journals with national investigators as authors was observed, when compared to Portugal (75% vs 15%).

CONCLUSION

The better performance in clinical research by Czech Republic might be related to the existence of specific and periodic funding for clinical research, although further data are still needed to confirm this relationship. In upcoming years, the indicators used herein might be useful to tracking clinical research outcomes in these and other European countries.

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.

Bismuth quadruple regimen with tetracycline or doxycycline versus three-in-one single capsule as third-line rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection: Spanish data of the European Helicobacter pylori Registry (Hp-EuReg)

BACKGROUND

Different bismuth quadruple therapies containing proton-pump inhibitors, bismuth salts, metronidazole, and a tetracycline have been recommended as third-line Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of third-line treatments with bismuth, metronidazole, and either tetracycline or doxycycline.

METHODS

Sub-study with Spanish data of the "European Registry on H pylori Management" (Hp-EuReg), international multicenter prospective non-interventional Registry of the routine clinical practice of gastroenterologists. After previous failure with clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-containing therapies, patients receiving a third-line regimen with 10/14-day bismuth salts, metronidazole, and either tetracycline (BQT-Tet) or doxycycline (BQT-Dox), or single capsule (BQT-three-in-one) were included. Data were registered at AEG-REDCap database. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Four-hundred and fifty-four patients have been treated so far: 85 with BQT-Tet, 94 with BQT-Dox, and 275 with BQT-three-in-one. Average age was 53 years, 68% were women. Overall modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were 81% (BQT-Dox: 65%, BQT-Tet: 76%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%) and 82% (BQT-Dox: 66%, BQT-Tet: 77%, BQT-three-in-one: 88%), respectively. By logistic regression, higher eradication rates were associated with compliance (OR = 2.96; 95% CI = 1.01-8.84) and no prior metronidazole use (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.15-3.33); BQT-three-in-one was superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 4.46; 95% CI = 2.51-8.27), and BQT-Tet was marginally superior to BQT-Dox (OR = 1.67; 95% CI = 0.85-3.29).

CONCLUSION

Third-line H pylori eradication with bismuth quadruple treatment (after failure with clarithromycin and levofloxacin) offers acceptable efficacy and safety. Highest efficacy was found in compliant patients and those taking 10-day BQT-three-in-one or 14-day BQT-Tet. Doxycycline seems to be less effective and therefore should not be recommended.

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

BACKGROUND

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

METHODS

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

RESULTS

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

CONCLUSION

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

Bismuth, rabeprazole, amoxicillin, and doxycycline as first-line Helicobacter pylori therapy in clinical practice: A pilot study

BACKGROUND

Bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BQT) is a recommended alternative first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new BQT with amoxicillin and doxycycline as a first-line treatment for H. pylori infection in clinical practice.

METHODS

An open, prospective pilot clinical study including H. pylori-positive outpatients who had never received eradication treatment was carried out. An RADB regimen (10 mg rabeprazole, 1000 mg amoxicillin, 100 mg doxycycline, and 220 mg colloidal bismuth tartrate, all given bid for 14 days) was prescribed by gastroenterologists. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a ¹³ C-urea breath test performed at least 6 weeks after the end of treatment. Regimen efficacy was evaluated by per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen patients were included in the study. The eradication rate of RADB was 93.8% (105/112; 95% CI 89.2%-98.3%) in PP analysis and 89.8% (106/118; 95% CI 84.3%-95.4%) in ITT analysis. The patient compliance rate was 97.5% (115/118). The adverse event rate was 6.8% (8/118). Adverse events included asthenia, loss of appetite, dry mouth, heartburn, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. All adverse events disappeared after completion of therapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that 14-day BQT with amoxicillin and doxycycline can be an effective and safe eradication regimen for first-line therapy against H. pylori infection in clinical practice.

Rifabutin and Furazolidone Could Be the Candidates of the Rescue Regimen for Antibiotic-Resistant H. pylori in Korea

Background/Aim. In Korea, the rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication has declined steadily as a result of increasing resistance to antibiotics, especially dual resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole. However, microbiological culture data on drug-resistant H. pylori is lacking. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of candidate antibiotics against resistant H. pylori strains. Methods. After retrospectively reviewing the data from the Helicobacter Registry in Gil Medical Center (GMC) and Asan Medical Center (AMC), along with 4 reference strains, we selected the 31 single- or multidrug-resistant strains. The susceptibility of the H. pylori strains to seven antibiotics (clarithromycin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, rifabutin, and furazolidone) and minimum inhibitory concentration were tested using the broth microdilution technique. Results. Among 31 antibiotic resistance strains for H. pylori, there were no strains resistant to rifabutin or furazolidone, which had MICs of <0.008 and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively. Only one tetracycline-resistant strain was found (MIC < 2 μg/mL). Amoxicillin and levofloxacin were relatively less effective against the H. pylori strains compared to rifabutin or furazolidone (resistance rates 22.6%, 1.9%, respectively). Tetracycline showed the relatively low resistance rates (3.2%) for H. pylori strains. Conclusions. Therefore, along with tetracycline which has already been used as a component for second-line eradication regimen for Helicobacter, rifabutin and furazolidone, alone or in combination, could be used to eradicate antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains where drug-resistant Helicobacter spp. are increasing.

Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance in Portugal: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Portugal presents both a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance. However, conclusive data on its magnitude are lacking. We aimed at summarizing the existing data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic review was conducted after searching in two databases (PubMed and SciELO). Meta-analysis was performed, and comparison of resistance rates between children and adults and by type of resistance (primary and secondary) was made.

RESULTS

Eight cross-sectional studies assessing Hp resistance to antibiotics were included. Overall resistance rates were as follows: clarithromycin (CLA) 42% (95% CI: 30-54), metronidazole (MTZ) 25% (95% CI: 15-38), ciprofloxacin (CIP) 9% (95% CI: 3-18), levofloxacin (LVX) 18% (95% CI: 2-42), tetracycline (TTC) 0.2% (95% CI: 0-1), and amoxicillin (AMX) 0.1% (95% CI: 0-0.2). Multidrug resistance was also an important problem, with the following global resistance rates: CLA plus MTZ of 10% (adults 20% (95% CI: 15-26) vs children 6% (95% CI: 4-9)) and CLA plus CIP of 2% (primary resistance in children's group). High secondary resistance rates were found for all antibiotics. Resistance was higher among adults for all antibiotics, except CLA that had high resistance levels both among adults and children (42% 95% CI: 14-71 and 40% 95% CI: 33-47).

CONCLUSIONS

Hp resistance to the most widely used antibiotics is high in Portugal. Accordingly, our results suggest that the best therapeutic strategy for Hp in Portugal may be quadruple therapy with bismuth for adults and triple therapy including AMX plus MTZ or bismuth-based therapy for children.

Twelve-day quintuple regime containing four antibiotics as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in the central region of Portugal

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori eradication rates with standard triple therapy in many countries are clinically unacceptable. Fluoroquinolone resistance is increasing and jeopardizing second-line regimens. There is a growing need for an effective strategy in patients who failed previous therapies.

METHODS

This is a single-center, non-randomized clinical study conducted in the central region of Portugal. Sixty-four patients were included with a positive 13C-urea breath test (UBT) or histology for H. pylori, and at least one failed eradication attempt. The patient cohort included 71.7% of females with a median of age of 52 (range 23-87). They were treated with a twelve-day regimen consisting of a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) bid, amoxicillin at 1,000 mg 12/12 h and levofloxacin at 500 mg bid during the first seven days, followed by PPI bid, clarithromycin at 500 mg 12/12h and either tinidazole or metronidazole at 500 mg bid/tid for five days. Eradication was assessed by UBT. The local Ethics Committee approved this study.

RESULTS

Eradication therapy was prescribed due to dyspepsia (66.7%), peptic ulcer (10%) and thrombocytopenia (8.3%). The median number of failed therapies was one (range 1-4). The eradication rate was 64.6% according to an intention-to-treat analysis (95% CI: 53-77%), and 70% by the per-protocol analysis (95% CI: 58-82%). Age, smoking, indication for eradication, previous therapies and the use of a second-generation or full-dose PPI did not affect success rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Even though treatment with four antibiotics was used, this "reinforced" therapy achieved suboptimal results. This fact highlights the lack of effective H. pylori antimicrobials and suggests that second-line treatment in our region should be prescribed according to susceptibility testing.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: Current and future insights

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric malignancies such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma worldwide. H. pylori treatment still remains a challenge, since many determinants for successful therapy are involved such as individual primary or secondary antibiotics resistance, mucosal drug concentration, patient compliance, side-effect profile and cost. While no new drug has been developed, current therapy still relies on different mixture of known antibiotics and anti-secretory agents. A standard triple therapy consisting of two antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor proposed as the first-line regimen. Bismuth-containing quadruple treatment, sequential treatment or a non-bismuth quadruple treatment (concomitant) are also an alternative therapy. Levofloxacin containing triple treatment are recommended as rescue treatment for infection of H. pylori after defeat of first-line therapy. The rapid acquisition of antibiotic resistance reduces the effectiveness of any regimens involving these remedies. Therefore, adding probiotic to the medications, developing anti-H. pylori photodynamic or phytomedicine therapy, and achieving a successful H. pylori vaccine may have the promising to present synergistic or additive consequence against H. pylori, because each of them exert different effects.

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

AIM: To investigate whether 7-d triple therapies are still valid in populations with low levels of resistance.

METHODS: A total of 1106 Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-positive patients were divided into three groups, each of which received one type of 7-d triple therapy. Therapeutic outcomes of the patients were assessed by the ¹³C-urea breath test at 8 wk after treatment. The susceptibility of H. pylori to antibiotics was determined by an agar-dilution method. Data analysis was performed by χ² tests.

RESULTS: The eradication rates in groups A, B and C were 90.71% (332/366), 90.46% (313/346) and 90.87% (189/208), respectively (P = 0.986). The resistance rates were 8.91% for clarithromycin, 14.78% for levofloxacin and 0% for amoxicillin. The eradication rate was significantly different between clarithromycin- and levofloxacin-resistant patients (P < 0.05) in group A. Patients whose treatment failed in group A also had a higher clarithromycin resistance rate than did successive patients (P = 0.034). However, levofloxacin resistance had no obvious influence on the eradication rate. Furthermore, three main antibiotics (clarithromycin, levofloxacin and amoxicillin) had lower DID (defined daily dose per 1000 inhabitants per day) in this city.

CONCLUSION: Clarithromycin resistance is the main reason for the failure of 7-d triple therapy. In populations with low levels of resistance, a 7-d triple therapy is a viable choice. The choice of therapy should not be influenced by conditions in high antibiotic resistance regions.

Guidelines for the management of Helicobacter pylori infection in Italy: The III Working Group Consensus Report 2015

Knowledge on the role of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is continually evolving, and treatment is becoming more challenging due to increasing bacterial resistance. Since the management of HP infection is changing, an update of the national Italian guidelines delivered in 2007 was needed. In the III Working Group Consensus Report 2015, a panel of 17 experts from several Italian regions reviewed current evidence on different topics relating to HP infection. Four working groups examined the following topics: (1) "open questions" on HP diagnosis and treatment (focusing on dyspepsia, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin use and extra-gastric diseases); (2) non-invasive and invasive diagnostic tests; (3) treatment of HP infection; (4) role of HP in the prevention of gastric cancer. Statements and recommendations were discussed and a consensus reached in a final plenary session held in February 2015 in Bologna. Recommendations are based on the best current evidence to help physicians manage HP infection in Italy. The guidelines have been endorsed by the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy.

A Triple and Quadruple Therapy with Doxycycline and Bismuth for First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND

Tetracycline-containing triple therapy has been suggested as an alternative first-line therapy for H. pylori infection.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of two dosages of doxycycline (DOX) associated with amoxicillin and esomeprazole with and without bismuth subcitrate as first-line treatment of H. pylori infection.

METHODS

Helicobacter pylori-positive patients underwent a 10-day therapy randomized into four groups: Group A received esomeprazole, amoxicillin, and DOX-100 mg b.i.d. (EAD-100), Group B a quadruple therapy with esomeprazole, amoxicillin, DOX-100 mg b.i.d. and bismuth subcitrate (EADB-100), Group C a triple therapy with esomeprazole, amoxicillin, and DOX-200 mg b.i.d. (EAD-200) and Group D a quadruple therapy with esomeprazole, amoxicillin, DOX-200 mg b.i.d., and bismuth subcitrate (EADB-200). Success was accessed by (13)C urea breath test 2 months after the end of treatment. The number of patients to be recruited for each group had to be at least 50 subjects. Treatment success of 80% or less was considered unacceptable. Stopping rules therefore were anytime six failures had occurred.

RESULTS

In the EAD-100 group and in EAD-200 group, the recruitment was stopped at the 14th and 15th patient, respectively. Fifty-two patients entered in the EADB-100 group and 51 in the EADB-200 group. Intention to treat eradication was in EADB-100 group 46/52 (88.5%, 95% CI 76.6-95.6); in the EADB-200 group 47/51 (92.1%, 95% CI: 81.1-97.8) (n.s.). Side effects were absent.

CONCLUSION

The adjunction of bismuth subcitrate to a triple therapy that includes esomeprazole, amoxicillin, and DOX in patients who are treated for the first time for the H. pylori infection potentiates the therapeutic effect. This regimen, however, deserves to be optimized in terms of duration and dose of DOX.

Low efficacy of levofloxacin-doxycycline-based third-line triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Italy

AIM: To evaluate a levofloxacin-doxycycline-based triple therapy with or without a susceptibility culture test in non-responders to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication.

METHODS: A total of 142 (99 women, 43 men; mean 53.0 ± 12.7 years) non-responders to more than two H. pylori eradication therapies underwent susceptibility culture tests or were treated with a seven-day triple therapy consisting of esomeprazole, 20 mg b.i.d., levofloxacin, 500 mg b.i.d., and doxycycline, 100 mg b.i.d., randomly associated with (n = 71) or without (n = 71) Lactobacillus casei DG. H. pylori status was checked in all patients at enrollment and at least 8 wk after the end of therapy. Compliance and tolerability of regimens were also assessed.

RESULTS: H. pylori eradication was achieved in < 50% of patients [per prototol (PP) = 49%; intention to treat (ITT) = 46%]. Eradication rate was higher in patients administered probiotics than in those without (PP = 55% vs 43%; ITT = 54% vs 40%). Estimated primary resistance to levofloxacin was 18% and multiple resistance was 31%. Therapy was well tolerated, and side effects were generally mild, with only one patient experiencing severe effects.

CONCLUSION: Third-line levofloxacin-doxycycline triple therapy had a low H. pylori eradication efficacy, though the success and tolerability of this treatment may be enhanced with probiotics.

Beyond Maastricht IV: are standard empiric triple therapies for Helicobacter pylori still useful in a South-European country?

Background

Empiric triple treatments for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are increasingly unsuccessful. We evaluated factors associated with failure of these treatments in the central region of Portugal.

Methods

This single-center, prospective study included 154 patients with positive ¹³C-urea breath test (UBT). Patients with no previous H. pylori treatments (Group A, n = 103) received pantoprazole 40 mg 2×/day, amoxicillin 1000 mg 12/12 h and clarithromycin (CLARI) 500 mg 12/12 h, for 14 days. Patients with previous failed treatments (Group B, n = 51) and no history of levofloxacin (LVX) consumption were prescribed pantoprazole 40 mg 2×/day, amoxicillin 1000 mg 12/12 h and LVX 250 mg 12/12 h, for 10 days. H. pylori eradication was assessed by UBT 6–10 weeks after treatment. Compliance and adverse events were assessed by verbal and written questionnaires. Risk factors for eradication failure were determined by multivariate analysis.

Results

Intention-to-treat and per-protocol eradication rates were Group A: 68.9% (95% CI: 59.4–77.1%) and 68.8% (95% CI: 58.9–77.2%); Group B: 52.9% (95% CI: 39.5–66%) and 55.1% (95% CI: 41.3–68.2%), with 43.7% of Group A and 31.4% of Group B reporting adverse events. Main risk factors for failure were H. pylori resistance to CLARI and LVX in Groups A and B, respectively. Another independent risk factor in Group A was history of frequent infections (OR = 4.24; 95% CI 1.04–17.24). For patients with no H. pylori resistance to CLARI, a history of frequent infections (OR = 4.76; 95% CI 1.24–18.27) and active tobacco consumption (OR = 5.25; 95% CI 1.22–22.69) were also associated with eradication failure.

Conclusions

Empiric first and second-line triple treatments have unacceptable eradication rates in the central region of Portugal and cannot be used, according to Maastricht recommendations. Even for cases with no H. pylori resistance to the used antibiotics, results were unacceptable and, at least for CLARI, are influenced by history of frequent infections and tobacco consumption.

Current Paradigm and Future Directions for Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

OPINION STATEMENT

Once easily eradicated with triple or quadruple therapy, Helicobacter pylori infection has become increasingly resistant to traditional first-line treatment regimens because of emerging antibiotic resistance coupled with poor patient compliance with completing the treatment course. Given decreasing H. pylori eradication rates, there is considerable interest in evaluating new antibiotic combinations and regimens, the addition of probiotics, and the development of new paradigms such as concomitant, sequential, and hybrid medication dosing strategies. Unfortunately, efforts thus far have not universally improved treatment responses, as promising early results were often not extrapolated to wider populations. This is probably due largely to regional variation in H. pylori resistance patterns. Ideally, the standard of care should be dictated by knowledge of local H. pylori antimicrobial resistance patterns and clinical success rates rather than by empiric extrapolation from the literature. Unfortunately, such knowledge is usually lacking in the USA. The expectation of a first-line regimen is a minimum 80 % eradication rate in the local population. Standard triple therapy with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin may still be effective in some areas; however, in populations with high clarithromycin resistance, quadruple therapy with a metronidazole-based regimen may be a better choice, and concomitant, sequential, or hybrid dosing schedules should also be considered as possible first-line choices. Second- and third-line treatment regimens consist of levofloxacin-based and rifabutin-based therapies, respectively. Further work should be directed at establishing local resistance patterns and eradication rates, developing H. pylori-specific antibiotics, and starting culture-guided treatment programs. Ultimately, the development of an H. pylori vaccine would bypass any issues with antibiotic resistance by preventing the acquisition of infection altogether.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection 2014

This review summarizes important studies regarding H.pylori therapy published from April 2013 to April 2014. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first-line treatments, predominantly optimized triple therapies and non-bismuth quadruple schemes. Regarding newer non-bismuth quadruple regimens, the compliance and tolerance seem to be similar for sequential and concomitant regimens. Notably, no study yet has demonstrated a clear statistical superiority for either, and a systematic review and meta-analysis may be warranted. Other studies examined the role of levofloxacin and bismuth based therapies in H. pylori eradication. The efficacy of bismuth as a second-line after sequential therapy was particularly noteworthy. Levofloxacin-based therapies also appear to be useful and versatile as part of different antibiotic combinations and in first-, second-, and third-line therapies. The emerging problem of quinolone resistance remains a worry. Individualized therapy, based on factors such as antimicrobial information, resistance data, and CYP2C19 metabolism, may well be the most notable future trend to emerge this year.