title: Laboratory diagnosis and susceptibility profile of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Philippines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori diagnosis and susceptibility profile directs the applicability of recommended treatment regimens in our setting. To our knowledge, there is no published data on the culture and local susceptibility pattern of Helicobacter pylori in the Philippines.
  
  
  METHODS
  52 dyspeptic adult patients undergoing endoscopy from the Outpatient Gastroenterology clinic of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital underwent multiple gastric biopsy and specimens were submitted for gram stain, culture, antimicrobial sensitivity testing, rapid urease test and histology. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Epsilometer testing (Etest) method against metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty percent (60%) of the study population was positive for H. pylori infection (mean age of 44 years +/- 13), 70% were males. H. pylori culture showed a sensitivity of 45% (95% CI [29.5-62.1]), specificity of 98% (95%CI [81.5-100%]), positive likelihood ratio of 19.93 (95% CI [1.254-317.04]) and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.56 (95% CI [0.406-0.772]). All H. pylori strains isolated were sensitive to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowledge of the antibiotic susceptibility patterns in our setting allows us to be more cautious in the choice of first-line agents. Information on antibiotic susceptibility profile plays an important role in empiric antibiotic treatment and management of refractive cases.
authors.affiliation: Center for Global Health, Division of Infectious Disease and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. rvd2v@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Raul V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Destura
authors.forename: Eternity D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Labio
authors.forename: Leah J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: Cirle S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Alcantara
authors.forename: Venancio I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Gloria
authors.forename: Ma Lourdes O
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Daez
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Guerrant