title: Transmission of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori is found predominantly in human gastric mucosa. Transfer of the bacterium remains an open topic, but it is likely that infection is usually acquired at a young age, particularly where lower socio-economic conditions prevail. Transmission via an external source such as water supply is a possibility but, in general, infection is probably passed from person to person. Arguments for and against faecal-oral, oral-oral and gastric-oral transmission have been presented, but the dominance of one of these routes is still to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Research Unit, Leicester General Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors