title: Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in residents of a hospital for people with severe learning difficulties.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori among the residents of a hospital for people with severe learning difficulties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of stored sera from the hospital residents and control sera from the local, non-residential population.
  
  
  METHODS
  H. pylori immunoglobulin G antibody was measured in 424 hospital residents using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, taking an antibody level of > 10 units/ml as evidence of H. pylori infection. The results were compared with 267 age- and sex-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seropositivity rates were significantly higher in the hospital residents than in controls for all ages. This was most marked among those under 40 years of age (87 versus 24% H. pylori-positive for residents and controls, respectively; P < 0.001). The overall seropositivity rates were 87 and 43% for residents and controls, respectively (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This English study of H. pylori seroprevalence in an institutionalized population is the largest to date and confirms the very high seropositivity rates found by previous studies in Australia. Our findings may have significance for the future health of these patients and for the possible modes of transmission of H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Epsom General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Douds
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Meurisse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chambers
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006782:Hospitals, Special; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial