Is levofloxacin-based triple therapy an alternative for first-line eradication of Helicobacter pylori? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Practice guidelines for the management of Helicobacter pylori infection: The Saudi H. pylori Working Group recommendations

The eradication rates for Helicobacter pylori globally are decreasing with a dramatic increase in the prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria all over the world, including Saudi Arabia. There is no current consensus on the management of H. pylori in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Gastroenterology Association developed these practice guidelines after reviewing the local and regional studies on the management of H. pylori. The aim was to establish recommendations to guide healthcare providers in managing H. pylori in Saudi Arabia. Experts in the areas of H. pylori management and microbiology were invited to write these guidelines. A literature search was performed, and all authors participated in writing and reviewing the guidelines. In addition, international guidelines and consensus reports were reviewed to bridge the gap in knowledge when local and regional data were unavailable. There is limited local data on treatment of H. pylori. The rate of clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance is high; therefore, standard triple therapy for 10-14 days is no longer recommended in the treatment of H. pylori unless antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Based on the available data, bismuth quadruple therapy for 10-14 days is considered the best first-line and second-line therapy. Culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be considered following two treatment failures. These recommendations are intended to provide the most relevant evidence-based guidelines for the management of H. pylori infection in Saudi Arabia. The working group recommends further studies to explore more therapeutic options to eradicate H. pylori.

The Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Levofloxacin Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter pylori Eradication: A Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial

The incidence of microbial resistance is growing, and new rescue regimens are needed to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study aimed to evaluate levofloxacin-based quadruple therapies’ efficacy, safety, and tolerability in eradicating H. pylori. In a randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 220 patients with dyspepsia and H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to receive either bismuth subcitrate 240 mg, pantoprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg twice a day, and levofloxacin 500 mg daily for seven days (BPAL-7) or ten days (BPAL-10). The eradication of H. pylori was evaluated two months after the end of treatment, and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were assessed during the intervention. According to intention-to-treat and per-protocol, the eradication rate was significantly lower in the BPAL-7 regimen at 49.1% (95% CI: 39.3–57.8) and 47.6% (95% CI: 39.7–58.4), respectively, compared to the BPAL-10 regimen at 62.7% (95% CI: 53.6–72.8) and 62.4% (95% CI: 55.1–72.8), respectively. The ADR incidence was not statistically significant between the groups of BPAL-7 (33.6%) and BPAL-10 (36.7%). Although the ADRs were negligible in both groups, these regimens could not be an ideal alternative therapy for H. pylori because of their low eradication rates compared to standard regimens. Trial Registration. The study was reviewed and approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT201406141155N19).

Management of Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Effectiveness Rates in Daily Clinical Practice in Spain: 2010–2019

The management and effectiveness of the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection are heterogeneous worldwide, despite the publication of international consensus conferences and guidelines, which have been widely available for years. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical management and the eradication rates in a region of Southern Europe (Spain). Between 2010 and 2019, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with H. pylori infection attended by gastroenterologists in two defined areas of the National Health System in Aragón. We compared the appropriateness of therapies according to guidelines, and described the effectiveness of each treatment. A total of 1644 penicillin non-allergic patients were included. The most prescribed therapy between 2010 and 2013 was the ‘classic’ triple therapy PCA (80%), whereas the ’concomitant’ therapy PCAM was chosen by 90% of the gastroenterologists in 2015. After 2016, the use of the quadruple bismuth-containing therapy in a single capsule (Pylera^®) quickly increased, representing almost half of the overall prescriptions in 2019. Throughout the decade, adherence to guidelines was 76.4% and global efficacy was 70.7% (ITT). Triple therapies’ eradication rates were lower than 70% (ITT), whereas eradication rates with quadruple therapies achieved or were over 80% (ITT). In conclusion, despite the use of quadruple therapies and optimized treatments, the effectiveness of H. pylori management in daily clinical practice is far from the target of 90%.

Levofloxacin-based therapy as an efficient alternative for eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Despite excessive resistance of Helicobacter pylori to clarithromycin among Iranian population, unfortunately, clarithromycin-based therapy is still prescribed in Iran. Recent studies have shown high rates of H. pylori eradication in patients treated with levofloxacin. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effect of levofloxacin with clarithromycin on the eradication of H. pylori infection in Iranian population.

METHODS

A comprehensive meta-analysis was done for the relevant cohort studies and clinical trials to compare the therapeutic effects of levofloxacin with clarithromycin in Iranian population. We pooled the data using odds ratio corresponding to 95% confidence intervals to find the clinical efficacy of levofloxacin versus clarithromycin to treat H. pylori infection. The heterogeneity and publication bias were also measured for the included studies.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Eradication rate in patients receiving levofloxacin and clarithromycin were 75% and 66.3%, respectively (OR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.40-2.20). In addition, in the subgroup analysis, it was confirmed that cure rate is relatively higher in levofloxacin-treated cases. However, there is significant heterogeneity as well as publication bias, thus, the results need to be interpreted with caution.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the success of levofloxacin treatment was significantly higher than that of clarithromycin. Therefore, it is suggested that clarithromycin-based triple therapy be replaced by levofloxacin-based triple therapy in countries with high resistance rate to clarithromycin such as Iran. Nevertheless, findings of the present study need to be approved with larger investigation on Iranian population.

Optimization Strategies Aimed to Increase the Efficacy of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapies with Quinolones

H. pylori infection is the main cause of gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. Fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin, or more recently moxifloxacin or sitafloxacin, are efficacious alternatives to standard antibiotics for H. pylori eradication. The aim of the present review is to summarize the role of quinolone-based eradication therapies, mainly focusing on the optimization strategies aimed to increase their efficacy. Several meta-analyses have shown that, after failure of a first-line eradication treatment, a levofloxacin-containing rescue regimen is at least equally effective, and better tolerated, than the generally recommended bismuth quadruple regimen. Compliance with the levofloxacin regimens is excellent, and the safety profile is favourable. Higher cure rates have been reported with longer treatments (>10-14 days), and 500 mg levofloxacin daily is the recommended dose. Adding bismuth to the standard triple regimen (PPI-amoxicillin-levofloxacin) has been associated with encouraging results. Unfortunately, resistance to quinolones is easily acquired and is increasing in most countries, being associated with a decrease in the eradication rate of H. pylori. In summary, a quinolone (mainly levofloxacin)-containing regimen is an encouraging second-line (or even third-line) strategy, and a safe and simple alternative to bismuth quadruple therapy in patients whose previous H. pylori eradication therapy has failed.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in Mexico with a levofloxacin-based scheme versus standard triple therapy: Results from an open-label, randomized, noninferiority phase iiib trial

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remains the leading cause of several gastroduodenal diseases. Despite the fact that multiple antibiotic regimens have been used to change its associated morbidity and mortality, the prevalence of this bacterial infection continues to be disproportionately high worldwide, mainly due to antibiotic resistance. To assess the noninferiority efficacy and safety of 210-day triple regimens on H. pylori eradication, we evaluated clarithromycin 500mg, lansoprazole 30mg, and amoxicillin 1g, all bid (standard triple therapy or CLA, Group 1) vs. pantoprazole 80mg, levofloxacin 500mg and azithromycin 500mg, all od (PLA, Group 2). Both regimens were compared in treatment-naïve patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An open label phase IIIb randomized and noninferiority trial comparing CLA vs. PLA was carried out for a 10-day period, within the time frame of June 2012 and March 2014. Eradication was verified with ¹³C-urea breath testing. Gastric biopsies were tested for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)-clarithromycin resistance prior to any antibiotic administration. Efficacy and safety results were analyzed according to the noninferiority methodological approach.

RESULTS

From the 227 H. pylori positive subjects that were randomized, 194 were finally analyzed as per-protocol. The group 2 eradication rate was 63% and was noninferior to the group 1 eradication rate of 58.5% (upper limit 95% CI: 0.11608; below the noninferiority margin: 0.1200). FISH clarithromycin-resistance was found in 28.2% of the cases. Adverse events, all minor and self-limited, were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (86 vs. 65.4%; p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

First-line H. pylori eradication with pantoprazole/levofloxacin/azithromycin combination therapy is as effective as the standard triple therapy, with better tolerability and easier dosing. Clarithromycin resistance should be considered when selecting antibiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication treatments. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02726269.

Eradication Rate of Helicobacter pylori on the US-Mexico Border Using the Urea Breath Test

OBJECTIVES

Helicobacter pylori is prevalent worldwide, especially in Latin America. Triple and quadruple antibiotic therapies have been relatively effective; however, resistance has emerged in recent years. The treatment success rate of these regimens on the border of the United States and Mexico is unknown. Our study attempted to determine eradication rates of two major regimens based on urea breath test (UBT) results in patients previously diagnosed as having H. pylori in a single center in El Paso, Texas, a city on the geographic border with Mexico.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with H. pylori who underwent UBT after being treated with triple therapy (amoxicillin/clarithromycin/proton pump inhibitor for 14 days), quadruple therapy (tetracycline/metronidazole/bismuth/proton pump inhibitor, usually for 10 days), or both for H. pylori from 2010 to 2015 in a county hospital. Patients were excluded if they did not complete therapy or if their treatment regimen was unknown. The Student t test and the χ² test were used to analyze the data. The cumulative incidence and 95% confidence interval (CI) for treatment success were estimated.

RESULTS

A total of 104 patients completed the treatment for H. pylori and had UBT. Mean age was 53 years, 76% were women, 85% were Hispanic, and mean body mass index was 30.5 kg/m². Of the 104 patients diagnosed as having H. pylori, 88 received triple therapy (84.6%) and 16 received quadruple therapy: 12 (11.5%) standard quadruple therapy, 4 (3.9%) triple therapy plus metronidazole. There were no differences between groups regarding age, sex, body mass index, or ethnicity. Overall, 90 (86.5%, 95% CI 78-92) patients had negative UBT after initial treatment. Based on posttreatment UBT, the triple therapy group had a similar eradication rate compared with the quadruple therapy group (78/88, 88.6% vs 12/16, 75.0%, P = 0.22). Of the 14 patients with positive posttreatment UBT, 12 (85.7%) received retreatment (2 were lost to follow-up), 11 (91.7%) received quadruple therapy, and 1 (8.3%) received triple therapy. Eradication was successful in 9 of 12 (75%, 95% CI 43-95) patients at retreatment. As such, of the initial 104 patients, 99/104 (95.2%) achieved H. pylori eradication posttreatment (either initial or retreatment).

CONCLUSIONS

In a predominantly Hispanic population on the US-Mexico border, H. pylori eradication rates based on UBT results were relatively high and were similar for triple therapy and quadruple therapy. Quadruple therapy was effective for those who failed the initial H. pylori treatment. This may have implications for cost-effective therapy in our region.

Consensus on the clinical management, screening-to-treat, and surveillance of Helicobacter pylori infection to improve gastric cancer control on a nationwide scale

BACKGROUND

Previous international consensus statements provided general policies for the management of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, there are geographic differences in the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of H. pylori, and in the availability of medications and endoscopy. Thus, nationwide or regional consensus statements are needed to improve control of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This consensus statement for management of H. pylori in Taiwan has three major sections: (1) optimal diagnosis and indications; (2) current treatment strategies; and (3) screening-to-treat and surveillance for control of gastric cancer. The literature review emphasized recent data for development of draft statements and determination of levels of evidence. Twenty-five Taiwan experts conducted a consensus conference, by a modified Delphi process, to modify the draft statements. Consensus, defined as an agreement of least 80% of the experts, and recommendation grade were determined by anonymous voting.

RESULTS

There were 24 consensus statements. Section 1 has seven statements on recommendations for the diagnosis and indications for treatment of H. pylori infection. Section 2 has 10 statements that provide an updated treatment algorithm for first-line, second-line, and third-line regimens. Section 3 has seven statements regarding H. pylori eradication for reducing the risk of gastric cancer, with a cost-benefit analysis. After H. pylori eradication, the consensus highlights the use of endoscopic surveillance and/or chemoprevention to further reduce the burden of gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

This consensus statement has updated recommendations for improving the clinical management of H. pylori infection in areas such as Taiwan, which have high prevalence of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer.

Efficacy and Safety of the Triple Therapy Containing Ilaprazole, Levofloxacin, and Amoxicillin as First-Line Treatment in Helicobacter pylori Infections

Background and Aims. To establish the efficacy and safety of ilaprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin as a first-line eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori. Methods. Patients with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, or gastritis, as detected by esophagogastroduodenoscopy with confirmed H. pylori infection between September 2014 and November 2015, were enrolled in the study. All participants received ilaprazole (10 mg bid), levofloxacin (500 mg bid), and amoxicillin (1000 mg bid) for 10 days. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by a ¹³C-urea breath test at 6–8 weeks after the end of treatment. Results. Of 84 patients included in the analysis, the eradication rate was 88.8% in the per protocol group (n = 80). Demographic factors such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), alcohol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peptic ulcer did not affect the eradication rate. However, multivariate analysis showed that overweight patients and patients with cerebrovascular accident (CVA) had a significantly lower eradication rate than patients with normal BMI and without CVA. Laboratory test results did not change significantly after treatment. A total of six (7.5%) patients developed eight adverse reactions. Conclusions. A 10-day triple therapy containing ilaprazole, levofloxacin, and amoxicillin is a safe alternative first-line eradication treatment for H. pylori.

ACG Clinical Guideline: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a common worldwide infection that is an important cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. H. pylori may also have a role in uninvestigated and functional dyspepsia, ulcer risk in patients taking low-dose aspirin or starting therapy with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication, unexplained iron deficiency anemia, and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. While choosing a treatment regimen for H. pylori, patients should be asked about previous antibiotic exposure and this information should be incorporated into the decision-making process. For first-line treatment, clarithromycin triple therapy should be confined to patients with no previous history of macrolide exposure who reside in areas where clarithromycin resistance amongst H. pylori isolates is known to be low. Most patients will be better served by first-line treatment with bismuth quadruple therapy or concomitant therapy consisting of a PPI, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and metronidazole. When first-line therapy fails, a salvage regimen should avoid antibiotics that were previously used. If a patient received a first-line treatment containing clarithromycin, bismuth quadruple therapy or levofloxacin salvage regimens are the preferred treatment options. If a patient received first-line bismuth quadruple therapy, clarithromycin or levofloxacin-containing salvage regimens are the preferred treatment options. Details regarding the drugs, doses and durations of the recommended and suggested first-line and salvage regimens can be found in the guideline.

Pharmacological regimens for eradication of Helicobacter pylori: an overview of systematic reviews and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Approximately half of the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori), a bacterium shown to be linked with a series of gastrointestinal diseases. A growing number of systematic reviews (SRs) have been published comparing the effectiveness of different treatments for H.pylori infection but have not reached a consistent conclusion. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of SRs of pharmacological therapies for the eradication of H.pylori.

METHODS

Major electronic databases were searched to identify relevant SRs published between 2002 and February 2016. Studies were considered eligible if they included RCTs comparing different pharmacological regimens for treating patients diagnosed as H.pylori infected and pooled the eradication rates in a meta-analysis. A modified version of the 'A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews' (AMSTAR) was used to assess the methodological quality. A Bayesian random effects network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare the different proton pump inhibitors (PPI) within triple therapy.

RESULTS

30 SRs with pairwise meta-analysis were included. In triple therapy, the NMA ranked the esomeprazole to be the most effective PPI, followed by rabeprazole, while no difference was observed among the three old generations of PPI for the eradication of H.pylori. When comparing triple and bismuth-based therapy, the relative effectiveness appeared to be dependent on the choice of antibiotics within the triple therapy; moxifloxacin or levofloxacin-based triple therapy were both associated with greater effectiveness than bismuth-based therapy as a second-line treatment, while bismuth-based therapy achieved similar or greater eradication rate compared to clarithromycin-based therapy. Inconsistent findings were reported regarding the use of levofloxacin/moxifloxacin in the first-line treatment; this could be due to the varied resistant rate to different antibiotics across regions and populations. Critical appraisal showed a low-moderate level of overall methodological quality of included studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis suggests that the new generation of PPIs and use of moxifloxacin or levofloxacin within triple therapy as second-line treatment were associated with greater effectiveness. Given the varied antibiotic resistant rate across regions, the appropriateness of pooling results together in meta-analysis should be carefully considered and the recommendation of the choice of antibiotics should be localized.

Antibiotic treatment for Helicobacter pylori: Is the end coming?

Infection with the Gram-negative pathogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with gastro-duodenal disease and the importance of H. pylori eradication is underscored by its designation as a group I carcinogen. The standard triple therapy consists of a proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin and clarithromycin, although many other regimens are used, including quadruple, sequential and concomitant therapy regimens supplemented with metronidazole, clarithromycin and levofloxacin. Despite these efforts, current therapeutic regimens lack efficacy in eradication due to antibiotic resistance, drug compliance and antibiotic degradation by the acidic stomach environment. Antibiotic resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole is particularly problematic and several approaches have been proposed to overcome this issue, such as complementary probiotic therapy with Lactobacillus. Other studies have identified novel molecules with an anti-H. pylori effect, as well as tailored therapy and nanotechnology as viable alternative eradication strategies. This review discusses current antibiotic therapy for H. pylori infections, limitations of this type of therapy and predicts the availability of newly developed therapies for H. pylori eradication.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection 2015

Many interesting articles have been published from many parts of the world over the last year assessing different issues around Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy. This article will address the published literature over the last year pertaining to the topic of treatment of H. pylori infection. The main themes that emerge are assessing the efficacy of standard triple therapy, as well as exploring new first-line treatments, mainly optimized nonbismuth- and bismuth-containing quadruple therapies with some promising data also emerging on dual therapy. There was also considerable progress in investigating antibiotic resistance rates with much more data emerging from varied parts of the world compared to recent years. There have also been advances in the use of adjunctive therapies, especially probiotic therapies. Undoubtedly, the eradication of H. pylori remains a worthwhile goal to alleviate the burden of diseases caused by the complications of this infection, including dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer.

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Korea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The efficacy of seven-day clarithromycin-based standard triple therapy (STT) for Helicobacter pylori has decreased in Korea over the past decade. The aim of this meta-analysis was to clarify the efficacy of first-line and second-line therapies in Korea. This systematic review will provide an overview of H. pylori eradication and present new therapeutic strategies used in Korea. An extensive search of the literature concerning STT, sequential therapy (SET), concomitant therapy (CT), bismuth-containing quadruple therapy (BCQT) and various other therapies used in Korea was performed. All selected studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eighteen RCTs were eligible for systematic review. The alternative regimens comparing seven-day STT as a first-line therapy include SET, CT, levofloxacin-based therapy (LBT), BCQT, and STT with prolonged duration. The results of the meta-analysis suggest that SET is superior to seven-day STT. The overall eradication rate by intention to treat (ITT) analysis was 69.8% for STT and 79.7% for SET. The overall eradication rate by per-protocol (PP) analysis was 77.0% for STT and 85.0% for SET. The odds ratios for the ITT and PP eradication rate were 0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.74) and 0.52 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.76), respectively. In the subgroup analysis, however, there were no significant differences between SET and STT with prolonged durations. Alternative regimens to seven-day BCQT as second-line therapy include LBT, moxifloxacin-based therapy and 14-day BCQT. The eradication rates of these alternative regimens were not superior to that of the conventional treatment. SET is superior to seven-day STT but not to STT with prolonged duration.

Review: clinical management of Helicobacter pylori infection in China

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been associated with gastric disorders. The situation of H. pylori infection in China-where a high prevalence of H. pylori infection, a high incidence of gastric cancer, and widespread resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin exist-is quite different from that in Western countries. In order for Chinese clinicians to better manage H. pylori infection, a Chinese Study Group on H. pylori published four consensus reports regarding the management of H. pylori infection in China between 1999 and 2012. The eradication rate with standard triple therapy was <80% in most areas of China. Bismuth is available in China, and bismuth-containing quadruple therapy has been shown to produce a high eradication rate; thus, bismuth quadruple therapy could be recommended both as an initial and as a rescue therapy in China. There is no advantage of sequential therapy over triple therapy in Chinese patients, but the efficacy of concomitant therapy must be studied further. This review introduces the epidemiology, diagnosis, indicators, and therapies for the eradication of H. pylori in China in recent years.

Ciprofloxacin-containing versus clarithromycin-containing sequential therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized trial

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Helicobacter pylori eradication rates with standard triple therapy have declined to unacceptable levels. This randomized trial aimed at evaluating the efficacy of a ciprofloxacin containing sequential regimen in the eradication of H. pylori-infected patients vs. a clarithromycin containing sequential therapy.

METHODS

A total of 212 patients were randomized into 14-day therapeutic schemes (106 patients per group): (1) clarithromycin-containing sequential therapy rabeprazole plus amoxicillin for 7 days, followed by rabeprazole plus clarithromycin plus metronidazole for 7 days, and (2) ciprofloxacin-containing sequential therapy using ciprofloxacin instead of clarithromycin. Eradication was confirmed by stool H. pylori antigen. Adverse effects and compliance were assessed by a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Per protocol cure rates were as follows: 87.6 % in the ciprofloxacin-containing sequential therapy and 76 % in the clarithromycin group. Intention-to-treat cure rates were as follows: 73.5 % for the ciprofloxacin group and 66 % for the clarithromycin group. No differences in compliance or adverse effects were demonstrated among treatments.

CONCLUSION

Ciprofloxacin-containing sequential therapy is more effective and equally safe compared to a clarithromycin-containing sequential therapy.

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.

Quinolone-containing therapies in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Fluoroquinolones, especially levofloxacin, are used in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori worldwide. Many consensus guidelines recommend that the second-line rescue therapy for H. pylori eradication consists of a proton pump inhibitor, a quinolone, and amoxicillin as an option. Unfortunately, quinolone is well associated with a risk of developing bacterial resistance. In this paper, we review quinolone-containing H. pylori eradication regimens and the challenges that influence the efficacy of eradication. It is generally suggested that the use of levofloxacin should be confined to “rescue” therapy only, in order to avoid a further rapid increase in the resistance of H. pylori to quinolone. The impact of quinolone-containing H. pylori eradication regimens on public health issues such as tuberculosis treatment must always be taken into account. Exposure to quinolone is relevant to delays in diagnosing tuberculosis and the development of drug resistance. Extending the duration of treatment to 14 days improves eradication rates by >90%. Tailored therapy to detect fluoroquinolone-resistant strains can be done by culture-based and molecular methods to provide better eradication rates. Molecular methods are achieved by using a real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect the presence of a gyrA mutation, which is predictive of treatment failure with quinolones-containing triple therapy.