title: Rifaximin Plus Levofloxacin-Based Rescue Regimen for the Eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed the efficacy of a rifaximin plus levofloxacin-based rescue regimen in patients that had failed both triple and quadruple standard regimens for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated patients for H. pylori between August 2009 and April 2011. The triple regimen consisted of combined treatment with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and pantoprazole for 1 week. For failed cases, a quadruple regimen of tetracycline, metronidazole, bismuth dicitrate, and lansoprazole for 1 week was administered. The rescue regimen for persistently refractory cases was rifaximin 200 mg t.i.d., levofloxacin 500 mg q.d., and lansoprazole 15 mg b.i.d. for 1 week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 482 patients were enrolled in this study. The eradication rates associated with the first and second regimens were 58% and 60%, respectively. Forty-seven out of 58 patients who failed with the second-line regimen received rifaximin plus levofloxacin-based third-line therapy. The eradication rate for the third regimen was 65%. The cumulative eradication rates were 58%, 85%, and 96% for each regimen, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A rifaximin plus levofloxacin-based regimen could be an alternative rescue therapy in patients with resistance to both triple and quadruple regimens for the eradication of H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Pil
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Han Gyung
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Seon
authors.forename: Chang Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ok
authors.forename: Kwang Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Min Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Won Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chang Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Pil Won
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong