Helicobacter pylori infection rate in patients with nontuberculous mycobacteriosis who are on longterm combination chemotherapy of clarithromycin and rifampicin.
Clarithromycin resistance in Helicobacter pylori has increased the incidence of eradication failure. Clarithromycin is a key drug in the current treatment regimens for H. pylori infection, and it is also used for nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM). The rate of H. pylori infection in 15 patients with NTM who were on longterm clarithromycin, rifampicin, and other drug therapy was examined, using the [(13)C] urea breath test. H. pylori was detected in 5 of the 15 patients (33.3%), which was significantly lower than the prevalence of H. pyloriin subjects who had routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Japan (P = 0.0006). Thus, H. pylori resistance to clarithromycin is suggested to be low in patients with longterm administration, and the possibility exists of a combination of clarithromycin and rifampicin as a second-line therapy for the eradiation of H. pylori.
Yokoyama
Toshinobu
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. tyokoyama@cogeco.ca
Kinoshita
Takashi
T
Rikimaru
Toru
T
Aizawa
Hisamichi
H
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D017291:Clarithromycin; D012293:Rifampin