title: Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: While there are some attempts to improve culture of Helicobacter pylori, molecular methods have been the main focus of this interest. Their main application concerns the development of rapid tests also allowing the determination of bacterial resistance, i.e. real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or to genotype the strains. Attempts to improve, simplify or explain the discrepancies of urea breath test results have been made and new generation of stool antigen test with monoclonal antibodies either using the standard ELISA format or rapid immunoenzymatic detection have confirmed their value. With regard to serology, studies have mainly focused on the distinction of infections with more pathogenic strains and the ability to diagnose atrophic gastritis with the Gastropanel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makristathis
authors.forename: Alexander M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Hirschl
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehours
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mégraud
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D046508:Culture Techniques; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014508:Urea