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.
Operative Unit of Gastroenterology, Mauriziano Umberto I Hospital, Turin.
L
L
Lombardo
A
A
Lavagna
L
L
Crocellà
G
G
Masoero
P
P
Della Monica
A
A
Pera