Analysis of drug resistance and virulence-factor genotype of Irish Helicobacter pylori strains: is there any relationship between resistance to metronidazole and cagA status?
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori infection is eradicated with antimicrobial agents and drug-resistant strains make successful treatment difficult. Geographical variations in virulence-factor genotype also exist.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate prevalence of drug resistance and virulence-factor genotype in Irish H. pylori strains and to investigate if there is any relationship between drug resistance and genotype.


METHODS
Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from 103 patients were examined. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by Etest. The virulence-factor genotypes were determined using PCR. Frequencies of spontaneous metronidazole-resistance were measured in vitro.


RESULTS
Metronidazole resistance was present in 37.9% of strains examined. 16.5% of strains were clarithromycin-resistant and resistance to both agents observed was found in 12.6% of strains. 68% of strains were cagA(+). The dominant vacA type was s1/m2, followed by s1/m1 and s2/m2. The metronidazole resistance rate in cagA(-) group was significantly higher than in cagA(+) (P = 0.0089). Spontaneous resistance to metronidazole in cagA(-) occurred in higher frequency when compared with cagA(+).


CONCLUSIONS
cagA(+) and vacAs1/m2 type was the dominant genotype in Irish H. pylori strains. Significant rates of metronidazole resistance were observed in cagA(-) group. cagA(-) strains tend to acquire metronidazole resistance in vitro. Absence of cagA might be a risk factor in development of metronidazole resistance.
Taneike
I
I
Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. taneikei@gmail.com
Nami
A
A
O'Connor
A
A
Fitzgerald
N
N
Murphy
P
P
Qasim
A
A
O'Connor
H
H
O'Morain
C
C
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori; D008795:Metronidazole