New options in eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
Better treatment options to eradicate Helicobacter pylori are needed, while we await a possible effective vaccine against the world's most common infection. The goals of therapy for H. pylori infection should be an effective and low-cost therapy with a low frequency of side-effects. The currently available eradication regimens are cumbersome, which can lead to a reduction of compliance and a lower efficacy. More recent studies have shown, however, that the duration of antimicrobial treatment may be shortened, which also makes the treatment more cost-effective and more tolerable. At this point it seems relevant to treat H. pylori infection first with some antisecretory modification of triple therapy, while the therapeutic failures can be treated with other more relevant and suitable alternatives. Metronidazole is still a cornerstone of triple therapy and the more expensive clarithromycin is an alternative second-line treatment. Time will show the effectiveness and suitability of the latest topical 1-day treatments.
Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
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Seppälä
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Nuutinen
D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology