title: The effectiveness of systemic eradication therapy against oral Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with numerous gastroduodenal diseases. The oral cavity could be a potential extragastric reservoir for H. pylori, and oral H. pylori might cause gastric reinfection after the eradication therapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of H. pylori in oral cavity of patients with gastric H. pylori infection and to examine the effectiveness of the eradication therapy against H. pylori in stomach and in the oral cavity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with chronic periodontitis and gastric H. pylori were enrolled in the study. Gastric H. pylori infection was determined using (13) C-urea breath test before and 3 months after eradication therapy. The presence of the oral H. pylori was assessed using polymerase chain reaction before and 3 months after eradication therapy. The 1-week eradication therapy consisted of amoxycilin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg, and proton pump inhibitor 20 mg twice a day.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 56 subjects with gastric infection, 23 (41.1%) harbored H. pylori in the oral cavity. Eradication rate in stomach was 78.3%, whereas in the oral cavity, H. pylori was not detected from any sample after the eradication therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost half of the patients with gastric H. pylori harbored the bacterium in the oral cavity. After the eradication therapy, H. pylori was not detected in the oral cavity, what suggests high effectiveness of the therapy protocol in the oral cavity, or it is possible that oral H. pylori is of a transient character.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. bago@sfzg.hr
authors.forename: Ivona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bago
authors.forename: Josip
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bago
authors.forename: Vanda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Plečko
authors.forename: Andrej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aurer
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Majstorović
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budimir
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001944:Breath Tests; D055113:Chronic Periodontitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004338:Drug Combinations; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin