H pylori: Treatment for the patient only or the whole family?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of treatment of H pylori-infected individuals with the effects of treatment of individuals as well as all H pylori-infected family members.


METHODS
H pylori-positive patients with similar demographic specifications were prospectively randomized with respect to treatment, with a triple regimen of either patients and all H pylori-positive family members living togetherI (group I) or patients only (group II). Nine months after treatment, all patients were assessed for H pylori positivity.


RESULTS
There were 70 H pylori-positive patients in each group; patients in groups I and II lived with 175 and 190 H pylori-positive relatives, respectively. Age, sex and H pylori positivity rate were similar in both groups of relatives. Nine months after 14 d standard triple therapy, H pylori positivity was 7.1% in group I patients and 38.6% in group II patients [P < 0.01, OR = 8.61 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.91-22.84].


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate bad environmental hygienic conditions and close intra-familial relationships are important in H pylori contamination. These findings indicate all family members of H pylori-positive individuals should be assessed for H pylori positivity, particularly in developing countries where H pylori prevalence is high; they also suggest patients, their spouses and all H pylori-positive family members of H pylori-positive individuals should be treated for H pylori infection.
Sari
Yavuz-Selim
YS
SB Istanbul Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. yssari2003@yahoo.com
Can
Didem
D
Tunali
Vahit
V
Sahin
Orhan
O
Koc
Oguz
O
Bender
Omer
O
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004777:Environment; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000379:methods; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy