A Randomized Controlled Trial Shows that both 14-Day Hybrid and Bismuth Quadruple Therapies Cure Most Patients with Helicobacter pylori Infection in Populations with Moderate Antibiotic Resistance

Novel therapeutic regimens against Helicobacter pylori: an updated systematic review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a strict microaerophilic bacterial species that exists in the stomach, and H. pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections affecting humans. Eradicating H. pylori is the preferred method for the long-term prevention of complications such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric cancer. However, first-line treatment with triple therapy and quadruple therapy has been unable to cope with increasing antibacterial resistance. To provide an updated review of H. pylori infections and antibacterial resistance, as well as related treatment options, we searched PubMed for articles published until March 2024. The key search terms were "H. pylori", "H. pylori infection", "H. pylori diseases", "H. pylori eradication", and "H. pylori antibacterial resistance." Despite the use of antimicrobial agents, the annual decline in the eradication rate of H. pylori continues. Emerging eradication therapies, such as the development of the new strong acid blocker vonoprazan, probiotic adjuvant therapy, and H. pylori vaccine therapy, are exciting. However, the effectiveness of these treatments needs to be further evaluated. It is worth mentioning that the idea of altering the oxygen environment in gastric juice for H. pylori to not be able to survive is a hot topic that should be considered in new eradication plans. Various strategies for eradicating H. pylori, including antibacterials, vaccines, probiotics, and biomaterials, are continuously evolving. A novel approach involving the alteration of the oxygen concentration within the growth environment of H. pylori has emerged as a promising eradication strategy.

10-Day versus 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy for first-line eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: a randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial

Background

Bismuth quadruple therapy is currently consensus recommendation for first-line Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment; however, the optimal duration is unknown. We compared the efficacy of 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy with that of 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy for first-line eradication.

Methods

For our multicentre, parallel randomised, open-label, and non-inferiority study, we recruited H. pylori treatment-naïve patients from one medical centre and one teaching hospital in Taiwan. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 10-day (PBMT-10) or 14-day (PBMT-14) bismuth quadruple therapy. The primary outcome was the eradication rate as determined by intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol (PP) analyses. The eradication rates between the two groups were compared using a one-sided α value of 0.025 and a non-inferiority margin of 7%. The secondary outcomes were the rate of adverse effects. The trial is registered with ClincialTrials.gov (NCT04527055).

Findings

From August 3, 2020 to April 28, 2023, 313 H. pylori treatment-naïve patients (PBMT-10 = 157; PBMT-14 = 156) were enrolled. 35 patients were excluded from PP analyses. The eradication rates (95% CI) for PBMT-10 and PBMT-14 were respectively 92.4% (88.2%-96.5%) and 92.9% (88.9%-97.0%) by ITT analyses, and 97.9% (95.5%-100.0%) and 99.3% (97.8%-100.0%) by PP analyses. The eradication rates for PBMT-10 were non-inferior to those for PBMT-14 (absolute difference [lower boundary of the one-sided 97.5% CI] -0.6% [-6.7%], PNI = 0.020 in ITT analyses, -1.4% [-5.8%], PNI = 0.007 in PP analyses). The rates of overall adverse effects (54.1% versus 57.1%, P = 0.604) were similar between the two groups; nevertheless, the rates of dizziness (18.5% versus 34.0%, P = 0.003) and vomiting (4.5% versus 12.8%, P = 0.008) were lower in PBMT-10 than in PBMT-14.

Interpretation

The 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy was non-inferior to the 14-day therapy as a first-line treatment for eradicating H. pylori infection and had no different rates of overall adverse effects, but less serious adverse events in terms of dizziness and vomiting.

Funding

The National Science and Technology Council and Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan.

Equivalence Trial of the Non-Bismuth 10-Day Concomitant and 14-Day Hybrid Therapies for Helicobacter pylori Eradication in High Clarithromycin Resistance Areas

Background and aim: We conducted an equivalence trial of quadruple non-bismuth "concomitant" and "hybrid" regimens for H. pylori eradication in a high clarithromycin resistance area. Methods: There were 321 treatment-naïve H. pylori-positive individuals in this multicenter clinical trial randomized to either the hybrid (esomeprazole 40 mg/bid, amoxicillin 1 g/bid for 7 days, then 7 days esomeprazole 40 mg/bid, amoxicillin 1 g/bid, clarithromycin 500 mg/bid, and metronidazole 500 mg/bid) or the concomitant regimen (all medications given concurrently bid for 10 days). Eradication was tested using histology and/or a 13C-urea breath test. Results: The concomitant regimen had 161 patients (90F/71M, mean 54.5 years, 26.7% smokers, 30.4% ulcer) and the hybrid regimen had 160 (80F/80M, mean 52.8 years, 35.6% smokers, 31.2% ulcer). The regimens were equivalent, by intention to treat 85% and 81.8%, (p = 0.5), and per protocol analysis 91.8% and 87.8%, (p = 0.3), respectively. The eradication rate by resistance, between concomitant and hybrid regimens, was in susceptible strains (97% and 97%, p = 0.6), clarithromycin single-resistant strains (86% and 90%, p = 0.9), metronidazole single-resistant strains (96% and 81%, p = 0.1), and dual-resistant strains (70% and 53%, p = 0.5). The side effects were comparable, except for diarrhea being more frequent in the concomitant regimen. Conclusions: A 14-day hybrid regimen is equivalent to a 10-day concomitant regimen currently used in high clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance areas. Both regimens are well tolerated and safe.

Independent Risk Factors Predicting Eradication Failure of Hybrid Therapy for the First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Hybrid therapy is a recommended first-line anti-H. pylori treatment option in the American College of Gastroenterology guidelines, the Bangkok Consensus Report on H. pylori management, and the Taiwan H. pylori Consensus Report. However, the cure rates of eradication therapy in some countries are suboptimal, and the factors affecting the treatment efficacy of hybrid therapy remain unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the independent risk factors predicting eradication failure of hybrid therapy in the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 589 H. pylori-infected patients who received 14-day hybrid therapy between September 2008 and December 2021 in ten hospitals in Taiwan. The patients received a hybrid therapy containing a dual regimen with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus amoxicillin for an initial 7 days and a quadruple regimen with a PPI plus amoxicillin, metronidazole and clarithromycin for a final 7 days. Post-treatment H. pylori status was assessed at least 4 weeks after completion of treatment. The relationships between eradication rate and 13 host and bacterial factors were investigated via univariate and multivariate analyses. In total, 589 patients infected with H. pylori infection were included in the study. The eradication rates of hybrid therapy were determined as 93.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): 90.9-95.1%), 94.4% (95% CI: 93.8-97.2%) and 95.5%% (95% CI: 93.8-97.2%) by intention-to-treat, modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the eradication rate of clarithromycin-resistant strains was lower than that of clarithromcyin-susceptible strains (83.3% (45/54) vs. 97.6%% (280/287); p < 0.001). Subjects with poor drug adherence had a lower cure rate than those with good adherence (73.3% (11/15) vs. 95.5% (534/559); p = 0.005). Other factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking, coffee consumption, tea consumption and type of PPI were not significantly associated with cure rate. Multivariate analysis revealed that clarithromcyin resistance of H. pylori and poor drug adherence were independent risk factors related to eradication failure of hybrid therapy with odds ratios of 4.8 (95% CI: 1.5 to 16.1; p = 0.009) and 8.2 (95% CI: 1.5 to 43.5; p = 0.013), respectively. A 14-day hybrid therapy has a high eradication rate for H. pylori infection in Taiwan, while clarithromycin resistance of H. pylori and poor drug adherence are independent risk factors predicting eradication failure of hybrid therapy.

Hybrid, High-Dose Dual and Bismuth Quadruple Therapies for First-Line Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Taiwan: A Multicenter, Open-Label, Randomized Trial

INTRODUCTION

The study aimed to compare the efficacies and safety of 14-day hybrid therapy, 14-day high-dose dual therapy, and 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy in the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections.

METHODS

In this multicenter, open-label, randomized trial, we recruited adult H. pylori -infected patients from 9 centers in Taiwan. Subjects were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to 14-day hybrid therapy, 14-day high-dose dual therapy, or 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy. Eradication status was determined by the 13 C-urea breath test. The primary outcome was the eradication rate of H. pylori assessed in the intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Between August 1, 2018, and December 2021, 918 patients were randomly assigned in this study. The intention-to-treat eradication rates were 91.5% (280/306; 95% confidence interval [CI] 88.4%-94.6%) for 14-day hybrid therapy, 83.3% (255/306; 95% CI 87.8%-95.0%) for 14-day high-dose dual therapy, and 90.2% (276/306; 95% CI 87.8%-95.0%) for 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy. Both hybrid therapy (difference 8.2%; 95% CI 4.5%-11.9%; P = 0.002) and bismuth quadruple therapy (difference 6.9%; 95% CI 1.6%-12.2%; P = 0.012) were superior to high-dose dual therapy and were similar to one another. The frequency of adverse events was 27% (81/303) with 14-day hybrid therapy, 13% (40/305) with 14-day high-dose dual therapy, and 32% (96/303) with 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy. Patients receiving high-dose dual therapy had the fewest adverse events (both P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

Fourteen-day hybrid therapy and 10-day bismuth quadruple therapy are more effective than 14-day high-dose dual therapy in the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection in Taiwan. However, high-dose dual therapy has fewer adverse effects than hybrid bismuth quadruple therapies.

Comparative effectiveness of first-line therapies for eradication of antibiotic-resistant Helicobacter pylori strains: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

As a first-line treatment regimen for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, antibiotic therapy is widely used worldwide. However, the question of increasing antibiotic resistance must be considered. Given this issue, we need to find ways to reduce drug resistance. This study examined all currently available first-line regimens and compared them with standard triple treatment through a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

AIM

To compare first-line treatment regimens for eradication of antibiotic-resistant H. pylori strains.

METHODS

To compare the effectiveness of the first-line regimens for treating H. pylori infection, a Bayesian network meta-analysis was applied to process data extracted from RCTs. The plausible ranking for each regimen was assessed by the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). In addition, we conducted a relevant search by reference citation analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-five RCTs involving 12029 participants [including 1602 infected with clarithromycin (CAM)-resistant strains and 1716 infected with metronidazole (MNZ)-resistant strains] were included, in which a total of seven regimens were used for H. pylori eradication. The results showed that dual therapy containing a high-dose proton pump inhibitor (HDDT) [odds ratio (OR): 4.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.29-8.13] was superior to other therapies for all patients, including those with CAM/MNZ-resistant H. pylori infection. In the comparative effectiveness ranking, for CAM-resistant H. pylori, HDDT (OR: 96.80, 95%CI: 22.46-521.9) had the best results, whereas standard triple therapy ranked last (SUCRA: 98.7% vs 0.3%). In the subgroup of high cure rates (≥ 90%), HDDT was also generally better than other therapies.

CONCLUSION

For the eradication of CAM- and MNZ-resistant H. pylori strains, HDDT exhibited considerable advantages. The studies of CAM-resistant H. pylori were based on small samples due to a lack of antibiotic sensitivity tests in many RCTs, but the results showed that all patients, including those with CAM-resistant H. pylori infection, had a concordant trend. Overall, HDDT may be a reference for RCTs and other studies of H. pylori eradication.

REAP-HP survey 2020: Comparing the real-world practice and expectation in Helicobacter pylori eradication of the Taiwanese gastroenterologists in 2015 and 2020

BACKGROUND

REAP-HP study (Real-world practice and Expectation of Asia-Pacific physicians and patients in Helicobacter Pylori eradication) was the pioneer study investigating the expectation and preference of physicians across Asia-Pacific in H. pylori eradication in 2015. This study is the first follow-up study of REAP-HP in Taiwan.

AIMS

(1) To investigate the preference in regimens for the first-line anti-H. pylori therapy of Taiwanese gastroenterologist in 2020, (2) To survey the factor that cause the most concern when prescribing anti-H. pylori regimens in clinical practice, and (3) to compare REAP-HP survey data in 2020 and those surveyed in 2015 regarding the abovementioned end-points.

METHODS

A questionnaire for H. pylori eradication survey of physicians was distributed to the gastroenterologists who attended the Taiwan Digestive Disease Week 2020. Data of most commonly used first-line anti-H. pylori regimens and concerned factors when prescribing anti-H. pylori regimens between 2015 and 2020 were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 258 physicians from different districts of Taiwan participated in the REAP-HP Survey in 2020. The top three most commonly used anti-H. pylori regimens in Taiwan in 2020 were 14-day standard triple therapy (36.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.9%-42.7%), 7-day standard triple therapy (17.8%; 95% CI: 13.1%-22.5%) and 14-day reverse hybrid therapy (14.7%; 95% CI: 10.4%-19.0%) respectively. The top two factors that cause the most concern during prescribing anti-H. pylori therapy were eradication rate (82.3%; 95% CI: 77.6%-87.0%) and side effect (10.4%; 95% CI: 6.7%-15.1%). In 2015, the top three most commonly used regimens in Taiwan were 7-day standard triple therapy (62%; 95% CI: 56.2%-67.8%), 14-day standard triple therapy (21%; 95% CI: 16.1%-25.9%) and 10-day sequential therapy (7%; 95% CI: 4%-10%). A remarkable difference of the most commonly used anti-H. pylori regimens between 2015 and 2020 existed (p < .001). The top two factors that cause the most concern during prescribing anti-H. pylori therapy in 2015 were eradication rate (84.1%) and side effect (7.0%). There were no differences in the factors that cause the most concern during prescribing anti-H. pylori regimens between 2015 and 2020.

CONCLUSION

14-day standard triple therapy has replaced 7-day standard triple therapy as the most commonly used first-line anti-H. pylori therapy among Taiwanese gastroenterologists in 2020. 14-day reverse hybrid therapy is on rise to the third place as the most commonly used anti-H. pylori regimen in Taiwan.

Update on the first-line treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in areas with high and low clarithromycin resistances

Current international consensuses on Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy recommend that only regimens that reliably produce eradication rates of ⩾90% should be used for empirical treatment. The Real-world Practice & Expectation of Asia-Pacific Physicians and Patients in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication Survey also showed that the accepted minimal eradication rate in H. pylori-infected patients was 91%. According to efficacy prediction model, the per-protocol eradication rates of 7-day and 14-day standard triple therapies fall below 90% when clarithromycin resistance rate ⩾5%. Several strategies including bismuth-containing, non-bismuth-containing quadruple therapies (including sequential, concomitant, hybrid and reverse hybrid therapies), high-dose dual therapy and vonoprazan-based triple therapy have been proposed to increase the eradication rate of H. pylori infection. According to efficacy prediction model, the eradication rate of 14-day concomitant therapy, 14-day hybrid therapy and 7-day vonoprazan-based triple therapy is less than 90% if the frequency of clarithromycin-resistant strains is higher than 90%, 58% and 23%, respectively. To meet the recommendation of the consensus report and patients' expectation, local surveillance networks for resistance of H. pylori to clarithromycin are required to select appropriate eradication regimens in each geographic region. In areas with low (<5%) clarithromycin resistance (e.g. Sweden, Philippine, Myanmar and Bhutan), 7-day and 14-day standard triple therapies can be adopted for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection with eradication rates of ⩾90%. In areas with high (⩾5%) clarithromycin resistance (most other countries worldwide) or unknown clarithromycin resistance, 14-day hybrid, 14-day reverse hybrid, 14-day concomitant and 10- to 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy can be used to treat H. pylori infection.

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.

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

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

Novel "High-dose Quad" Salvage Therapy Approach for Helicobacter pylori Infection: A Case Report

Purpose: This case report outlines the successful eradication of chronic Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection using a novel, "high-dose quad" salvage therapy approach. Gastroenterologists may consider using this approach for patients who have previously failed first- and second-line treatment regimens, as recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). Summary: H. pylori infection is associated with multiple chronic gastrointestinal diseases, and patients who test positive for H. pylori should undergo treatment until eradication is achieved. Unfortunately, increasing antibiotic resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin makes eradication of H. pylori challenging. This case describes an 84-year-old American woman with chronic H. pylori gastritis who failed two first-line treatment regimens (bismuth quadruple therapy and concomitant therapy), but responded to a novel, "high-dose quad" salvage regimen consisting of high-dose levofloxacin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, and high-dose acid suppression. Conclusion: This is the first time the "high-dose quad" regimen has been reviewed in the literature and is not FDA approved, but may be considered as an alternative salvage therapy in certain patients, based on the efficacy and safety observed in this case.

Comparative efficacy and safety of high-dose dual therapy, bismuth-based quadruple therapy and non-bismuth quadruple therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection: a network meta-analysis

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with the development of multiple diseases. The eradication rate of H. pylori has gradually decreased, suggesting the need to discover more effective therapies. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of first-line treatments including high-dose dual therapy (HDDT), bismuth-based quadruple therapy (BQT), sequential therapy (ST), concomitant therapy (CT) and hybrid therapy (HT) by network meta-analysis (NMA). A comprehensive search on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science, was performed from their inception to 1 September 2019. A network analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing first-line therapies were carried out using Stata 14.0 and Revman 5.2. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was conducted by omitting non-Asian studies. Finally, 41 RCTs with 14 119 patients were included. The NMA showed that, in terms of eradication rate, ST for 10 days (ST-10) was significantly lower than CT for 10 or 14 days (CT ≥ 10). Sensitivity analysis among the Asian population showed that ST-10 denoted the lowest effectiveness among the interventions. The ranking results based on probability showed that HDDT ranked first for the eradication rate. As for adverse events, HDDT was significantly less than BQT and CT regardless of duration, while BQT for 14 days represented higher adverse events than ST, HT and CT ≥ 10. HDDT ranked first among the therapies. In conclusion, HDDT for 14 days appeared to be the most optimal first-line therapy for H. pylori among the Asian population with comparable efficacy and compliance but causing fewer adverse events.

Eradication Rates for Esomeprazole and Lansoprazole-Based 7-Day Non-Bismuth Concomitant Quadruple Therapy for First-Line Anti-Helicobacter pylori Treatment in Real World Clinical Practice

PURPOSE

Non-bismuth concomitant quadruple therapy is commonly administered in Taiwan, achieving an acceptable efficacy as a first-line anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment. This study compared the eradication rates between esomeprazole- and lansoprazole-based non-bismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for first-line anti-H. pylori treatment.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study included 206 H. pylori-infected naïve patients between July 2016 and February 2019. The patients were prescribed with either a 7-day non-bismuth containing quadruple therapy (esomeprazole, 40 mg twice daily; amoxicillin, 1 g twice daily; and metronidazole, 500 mg twice daily; and clarithromycin, 500 mg twice daily for 7 days [EACM group]; lansoprazole, 30 mg twice daily; amoxicillin, 1 g twice daily; metronidazole, 500 mg twice daily; and clarithromycin, 500 mg twice daily [LACM group]). Then, the patients were asked to perform urea breath tests 8 weeks later.

RESULTS

The eradication rates in the EACM group were 86.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 77.8%-92.2%) and 90.6% (95% CI, 82.9%-95.6%) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) and the per-protocol (PP) analyses, respectively. Moreover, the eradication rates in the LACM group were 90.1% (95% CI, 82.6%-95.2%) and 92.6% (95% CI, 85.5%-96.9%) in the ITT and the PP analyses, respectively. Consequently, the LACM group exhibited more diarrhea patients than the EACM group (7.1% versus 1.0%, p = 0.029), but all symptoms were mild. Univariate analysis in this study showed that metronidazole-resistant strains were the clinical factor affecting the eradications (95.3% versus 78.9%, p = 0.044). Moreover, a trend was observed in dual clarithromycin- and metronidazole-resistant strains (91.5% versus 66.7%, p = 0.155).

CONCLUSION

The eradication rates between esomeprazole and lansoprazole-based non-bismuth concomitant quadruple therapy for first-line H. pylori treatment were similar in this study. Both could achieve a > 90% report card in the PP analysis.

Potential of Bacterial Cellulose Chemisorbed with Anti-Metabolites, 3-Bromopyruvate or Sertraline, to Fight against Helicobacter pylori Lawn Biofilm

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium known mainly of its ability to cause persistent inflammations of the human stomach, resulting in peptic ulcer diseases and gastric cancers. Continuous exposure of this bacterium to antibiotics has resulted in high detection of multidrug-resistant strains and difficulties in obtaining a therapeutic effect. The purpose of the present study was to determine the usability of bacterial cellulose (BC) chemisorbed with 3-bromopyruvate (3-BP) or sertraline (SER) to act against lawn H. pylori biofilms. The characterization of BC carriers was made using a N2 adsorption/desorption analysis, tensile strength test, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. Determination of an antimicrobial activity was performed using a modified disk-diffusion method and a self-designed method of testing antibacterial activity against biofilm microbial forms. In addition, bacterial morphology was checked by SEM. It was found that BC disks were characterized by a high cross-linking and shear/stretch resistance. Growth inhibition zones for BC disks chemisorbed with 2 mg of SER or 3-BP were equal to 26.5-27.5 mm and 27-30 mm, respectively. The viability of lawn biofilm H. pylori cells after a 4-h incubation with 2 mg SER or 3-BP chemisorbed on BC disks was ≥4 log lower, suggesting their antibacterial effect. SEM observations showed a number of morphostructural changes in H. pylori cells exposed to these substances. Concluding, SER and 3-BP chemisorbed on BC carriers presented a promising antibacterial activity against biofilm H. pylori cells in in vitro conditions.

Trend of changes in antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori from 2013 to 2019: a multicentre report from Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic resistance plays a crucial role in the treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study aimed to determine the trend of changes in the primary, secondary and tertiary antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in Taiwan over the last 7 years.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed H. pylori-infected isolates from patients with primary resistance (n = 1369), secondary resistance (n = 196) and tertiary resistance (n = 184) from January 2013 to December 2019. The H. pylori strains were tested for susceptibility to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, metronidazole and tetracycline using the Epsilometer test method.

RESULTS

A progressively higher primary resistance rate was observed for clarithromycin (11.8-20.4%, p = 0.039 in χ2 test for linear trend), levofloxacin (17.3-38.8%, p < 0.001) and metronidazole (25.6-42.3%, p < 0.001) among naïve patients who received first-line eradication therapy. The dual primary resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole also progressively increased in a linear trend (2.4-10.4%, p = 0.009). For secondary resistance, an increase was observed for levofloxacin (30.5-64.7%, p = 0.006) and metronidazole (40.5-77.4%, p < 0.001). For tertiary resistance, the observed increase was even more significant for levofloxacin (65.9-100.0%, p = 0.106) and metronidazole (44.4-88.2%, p < 0.001). The resistance to amoxicillin and tetracycline remained very low in Taiwan regardless of primary, secondary and tertiary resistance.

CONCLUSION

Primary, secondary and tertiary antibiotic resistance to clarithromycin, levofloxacin and metronidazole for H. pylori has been increasing in Taiwan since 2013. Treatment should be targeted for eradication success rates of more than 90%. Third-line treatment should be based on antibiotic susceptibility.

Best Helicobacter pylori Eradication Strategy in the Era of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is the major reason for Helicobacter pylori treatment failure, and the increasing frequency of antibiotic resistance is a challenge for clinicians. Resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole is a particular problem. The standard triple therapy (proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin) is no longer appropriate as the first-line treatment in most areas. Recent guidelines for the treatment of H. pylori infection recommend a quadruple regimen (bismuth or non-bismuth) as the first-line therapy. This treatment strategy is effective for areas with high resistance to clarithromycin or metronidazole, but the resistance rate inevitably increases as a result of prolonged therapy with multiple antibiotics. Novel potassium-competitive acid blocker-based therapy may be effective, but the data are limited. Tailored therapy based on antimicrobial susceptibility test results is ideal. This review discussed the current important regimens for H. pylori treatment and the optimum H. pylori eradication strategy.

Emerging Evidence for Infectious Causes of Cancer in the United States

Worldwide, infectious agents currently contribute to an estimated 15% of new cancer cases. Most of these (92%, or 2 million new cancer cases) are attributable to 4 infectious agents: Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus, and hepatitis B and C viruses. A better understanding of how infectious agents relate to the US cancer burden may assist new diagnostic and treatment efforts. We review US-specific crude mortality rates from infection-associated cancers and describe temporal and spatial trends since 1999. We review the US-specific evidence for infection-cancer associations by reporting available estimates for attributable fractions for the infection-cancer associations. Death due to cancers with established infectious associations varies geographically, but estimates for the US attributable fraction are limited to a few observational studies. To describe the burden of infection-associated cancer in the United States, additional observational studies are necessary to estimate the prevalence of infection nationally and within subpopulations. As infectious associations emerge to explain cancer etiologies, new opportunities and challenges to reducing the burden arise. Improved estimates for the United States would help target interventions to higher-risk subpopulations.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection and its long-term impacts on gut microbiota

The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the long-term safety following eradication therapy are important issues in the management of Helicobacter pylori infection. The prevalence of clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and metronidazole resistance of H. pylori has increased to 21%, 27%, and 45%, respectively, in the Asia-Pacific region. Personalized treatment guided by susceptibility testing may provide a reliably excellent eradication rate in the first-line treatment but is costly and not widely available. Population-specific empirical therapy according to the local prevalence of antibiotic resistance may be an alternative strategy. Levofloxacin-based therapy and bismuth quadruple therapy are the recommended second-line rescue therapy. Susceptibility testing or genotypic resistance-guided therapy is the preferred treatment for refractory H. pylori infection, but empirical therapy may be an acceptable alternative. Eradication of H. pylori leads to short-term perturbation of gut microbiota. The diversity of gut microbiota can be restored months after eradication therapy, but the speed of recovery varies with regimens. The short-term increases of antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae may be restored to basal states months after H. pylori eradication. Future studies that apply in-depth sequencing, such as shotgun metagenomics sequencing, are needed to clarify whether the compositions of gut microbiota at the species level are fully restored.

Reverse hybrid therapy achieves a similar eradication rate as standard hybrid therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND

Reverse hybrid therapy is a simplified hybrid treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection. It achieves a higher eradication rate than standard triple therapy. This study aimed to compare the efficacies of reverse hybrid and hybrid therapies in the treatment of H. pylori infection.

METHODS

From September 2008 to September 2017, 490 H. pylori-infected patients who received 14 days of reverse hybrid therapy (proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin for 14 days and clarithromycin plus metronidazole for the initial 7 days; n = 252) or hybrid therapy (proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin for 14 days and clarithromycin plus metronidazole for the final 7 days; n = 238) were included in this retrospective cohort study. Helicobacter pylori status was examined 6-8 weeks after therapy.

RESULTS

The eradication rates of the reverse hybrid and hybrid therapies by modified intention-to-treat analysis were comparable (96.4% vs 96.6%; p = 0.899). There were no differences in the efficacy of eradication between therapies for clarithromycin-resistant strains (87.0% vs 90.0%) or metronidazole-resistant strains (97.7% vs 100.0%). In addition, there were comparable frequencies of adverse events for both treatments (18.7% vs 13.0%) and treatment adherence (94.4% vs 97.1%).

CONCLUSION

Reverse hybrid therapy can achieve a similar eradication rate to hybrid therapy for H. pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori eradication with bismuth quadruple therapy leads to dysbiosis of gut microbiota with an increased relative abundance of Proteobacteria and decreased relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria

BACKGROUND

Bismuth quadruple therapy is the treatment of choice for the first-line therapy of Helicobacter pylori infection in areas of high clarithromycin resistance. Currently, the impact of the promising treatment on gut microbiota remains unclear.

AIM

To investigate the short-term and long-term impacts of bismuth quadruple therapy on gut microbiota.

METHODS

Adult patients with H. pylori-related gastritis were treated with 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy. Fecal samples were collected before treatment at week 2, week 8, and week 48. Nucleic acid extraction from fecal samples was performed. The V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced with the MiSeq followed by data analysis using Qiime pipeline.

RESULTS

Eleven patients received complete follow-up. Before treatment, the most abundant phyla were Firmicutes (45.3%), Bacteroidetes (24.3%), Proteobacteria (9.9%), and Actinobacteria (5.0%). At the end of bismuth therapy, the relative abundances of Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria decreased to 0.5% (P < .001) and 1.3% (P = .038), respectively. Additionally, the relative abundance of Verrucomicrobia also decreased from 3.2% to 1.11E-3% (P = .034). In contrast, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria increased (P < .001 and P = .003, respectively). At week 8, the relative abundances of all phyla restored to the levels at baseline. The relative abundances of all phyla at week 48 also did not significantly differ from those at baseline. During eradication therapy, 6 patients (55%) reported at least 1 adverse event. The relative abundance of phylum Proteobacteria in patients with adverse effects was more than that in patients without adverse effects (68.7% ± 8.8% vs 43.4% ± 25.5%; P = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

Bismuth quadruple therapy for H. pylori eradication can lead to short-term dysbiosis of gut microbiota. The increase in Proteobacteria in gut microbiota may attribute to the development of adverse effects during bismuth quadruple therapy.

Update on the first-line treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection - a continuing challenge from an old enemy

Because the prevalence of antibiotic resistance markedly increases with time worldwide, anti-H. pylori treatment is continuing to be a great challenge forsphysicians in clinical practice. The Real-world Practice & Expectation of Asia-Pacific Physicians and Patients in Helicobacter Pylori Eradication (REAP-HP) Survey demonstrated that the accepted minimal eradication rate of anti-H. pylori regimen in H. pylori-infected patients was 91%. The Kyoto Consensus Report on Helicobacter Pylori Gastritis also recommended that, within any region, only regimens which reliably produce eradication rates of ≥90% in that population should be used for empirical treatment. This article is aimed to review current first-line eradication regimens with a per-protocol eradication rate exceeding 90% in most geographic areas. In regions with low (≦15%) clarithromycin resistance, 14-day hybrid (or reverse hybrid), 10 ~ 14-day sequential, 7 ~ 14-day concomitant, 10 ~ 14-day bismuth quadruple or 14-day triple therapy can achieve a high eradication rate in the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection. However, in areas with high (>15%) clarithromycin resistance, standard triple therapy should be abandoned because of low eradication efficacy, and 14-day hybrid (or reverse hybrid), 10 ~ 14-day concomitant or 10 ~ 14-day bismuth quadruple therapy are the recommended regimens. If no recent data of local antibiotic resistances of H. pylori strains are available, universal high efficacy regimens such as 14-day hybrid (or reverse hybrid), concomitant or bismuth quadruple therapy can be adopted to meet the recommendation of consensus report and patients’ expectation.