Oral colonization of Helicobacter pylori: risk factors and response to eradication therapy.
BACKGROUND
Dental plaque is considered by some to be a secondary reservoir for Helicobacter pylori and thus responsible for gastric reinfection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether testing dental plaque using a rapid urease test (CLOtest) can be used to determine gastric H. pylori status.


METHODS
We investigated dental plaque colonization by H. pylori and its correlation with gastric infection in 75 dyspeptic patients. CLOtest was used to determine H. pylori positivity.


RESULTS
Tests for H. pylori were positive in dental plaque samples from 68 patients and in stomach samples from 65 patients. The sensitivity of using CLOtest in dental plaque to determine gastric H. pylori status was 89.7%, with a diagnostic accuracy of 86.7%. Gastric eradication was achieved in 83% of patients, but efforts to eradicate dental plaque colonization were unsuccessful in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Using CLOtest to detect H. pylori in dental plaque is a reliable first-line diagnostic approach for gastric H. pylori infection. Dental plaque might be a sanctuary for H. pylori, leading to gastric recurrence.
Gürbüz
Ahmet Kemal
AK
Department of Gastroenterology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Ozel
A Melih
AM
Yazgan
Yusuf
Y
Celik
Murat
M
Yildirim
Sükrü
S
D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology