Impact of urea breath test (UBT) in the management of H. pylori infection in a primary care setting.
BACKGROUND
Aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of UBT in a primary care setting.


METHODS
From September 1998 to July 1999 we studied 2810 consecutive patients, referred to the Department of Gastroenterology, Mauriziano Hospital, Torino. A structured questionnaire was used to record information on demographic characteristics and clinical history. 13C-UBT was performed by means of isotope ratio mass spectrometer.


RESULTS
The results shown that: 1) the main indication to perform UBT was the evaluation of treatment success (72% of cases); 2) in patients aged less than 45 years and never assessed before for H. pylori infection, UBT was used as first line procedure in 68% of cases: this finding stand for an initial adoption of the ''test and treat'' strategy; 3) first line H. pylori eradication therapies reflect international guidelines.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of therapeutic regimens results to be decreased when translated into routine clinical practice.
Lombardo
L
L
Operative Unit of Gastroenterology, Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital, Turin.
Lavagna
A
A
Crocellà
L
L
Masoero
G
G
Della Monica
P
P
Pera
A
A