title: Beta-lactamase inhibitor enhances Helicobacter pylori eradication rate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One-week triple therapy, a combination of acid suppression with two antibiotics, is the gold standard for anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment. There is increasing evidence of H. pylori resistance to classical triple therapy. Recently, it was reported that the amoxicillin-clavulanate combination had a slightly higher activity than amoxicillin alone against H. pylori, and that beta-lactamase inhibitors had 'in-vitro' antibacterial activity against H. pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the efficacy of 1 week triple therapy omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin plus clavulanate compared with omeprazole, clarithromycin and amoxicillin for H. pylori eradication. The study was open randomized.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty dyspeptic patients (36 male, 24 female; mean age 53 +/- 9 years) with Helicobacter pylori infection never treated before, were enrolled and randomly assigned to two different 7-day triple therapies: (i) (n = 30) amoxicillin 875 mg plus clavulanic acid 125 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. (ACCO); (ii) (n = 30) amoxicillin 1 g b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. (ACO). Bacterial eradication was assessed by 13C-urea breath test 4-6 weeks after therapy. Information on gastrointestinal symptoms and antibiotic-related side-effects were recorded using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients completed the study. A significantly higher H. pylori eradication rate with ACCO compared with ACO: (26/30) 86.6 vs. (20/30) 66.6%, respectively (P < 0.05) were observed. No major side-effects were reported, whilst 8% patients complained of mild side-effects; no significant differences were noted between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that amoxicillin and clavulanate in combination achieve a higher H. pylori eradication rate than amoxicillin alone, without any increase in side-effects. The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate may represent an alternative therapeutic scheme for the treatment of H. pylori infection.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Gemelli Teaching Hospital, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ojetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Migneco
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zocco
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Nista
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gasbarrini
mesh_terms: D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000150:complications; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D001618:beta-Lactamases; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole