Current therapeutic approaches for Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans. Noninvasive testing for H pylori is available using the urea breath test or a stool antigen test. Antibiotic regimens consist of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole/tinidazole, or a PPI plus metronidazole with bismuth and tetracycline. In clinical practice, antibiotic therapy can achieve cure rates of as high as 85%, but this rarely occurs. Thus, new therapies are needed. Because of the relatively low cure rates, follow-up confirmation of cure is needed using a urea breath test or a stool antigen test if the urea breath test is not available.