Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori infects the human stomach and is associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. Most patients with peptic ulcers are infected with H pylori. These patients suffer a high relapse rate following initial healing of the ulcer with anti-secretory agents. The rate of relapse can be greatly diminished following successful eradication of the organism. Although experience is still being accumulated, it is reasonable to use eradication therapy in any patient with H pylori positive active peptic ulcer disease. Combination triple and dual therapy regimens are effective but the search continues for better therapies. This review outlines the current evidence regarding which, when, how and with what H pylori infected patients should be treated.