[Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolated from Korean patients in 2003].
OBJECTIVE
Development of antibiotic resistance is a significant clinical problem in the eradication of H. pylori. To select an appropriate regimen, systematic information on antibiotic resistance is mandatory. Thus, we investigated the distribution of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and evaluated the antibiotic resistance of H. pylori isolates from Korean patients in 2003.


METHODS
The susceptibility of 65 isolates obtained in 2003 to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin were determined by agar dilution method.


RESULTS
Resistance rates of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin were 18.5%, 13.8%, 66.2%, 12.3%, 32.3%, and 33.8%, respectively. Multi-drug resistance rate of H. pylori was 47.7%. Especially, 6.2% of the H. pylori isolates were resistant to both amoxicillin and clarithromycin. In addition, resistance to amoxicillin and clarithromycin resulted in decreasing tendency of the eradication efficacy for H. pylori.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the antibiotics used for H. pylori eradication show high resistance rates in Korea. Furthermore, continuous surveillance of antibiotic susceptibilities should be needed and further increases in antibiotic resistance would require susceptibility testing before treatment to maximize the efficacy of H. pylori treatment.
Kim
Jung Mogg
JM
Department of Microbiology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Joo Sung
JS
Jung
Hyun Chae
HC
Kim
Nayoung
N
Song
In Sung
IS
D000368:Aged; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged