Helicobacter pylori prevalence in children influenced by non-specific antibiotic treatments.
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori (H.p.) infections play a very important role in the development of ulcerations and malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract. It is assumed that the primary infection occurs during childhood, depending on numerous environmental factors among them hygiene and social status. Our aim was to determine whether treatment with antibiotics affects the persistence of H.p. infection.


METHODS
In 2006, we conducted an epidemiological study among all grade 8 students in the city of Leipzig (mean age 14.6 years). To determine the prevalence of H.p. infection, a voluntary H.p. test (13C-urea breath test) was performed in all participants.


RESULTS
The H.p. prevalence was 6.3% (N = 1,598). A significant difference was found between those students who had been treated with an antibiotic at least once prior to the test and those who had never received any antibiotics (4.0% and 11.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). H.p. prevalence decreased with increasing numbers of antibiotic treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In adolescence, treatment with "non-H.p. specific" antibiotics appears to significantly affect H.p. prevalence. Moreover, the actual persistence of H.p. in "chronic persistent" H.p. infections appears to fluctuate at least in younger years. Thus, any "non-H.p. specific" antibiotic treatment should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment of H.p. infections and should be taken into account as an important confounder in future epidemiological studies.
Antje
A
Hoffmann
Peter
P
Krumbiegel
Thomas
T
Richter
Matthias
M
Richter
Stefan
S
Röder
Ulrike
U
Rolle-Kampczyk
Olf
O
Herbarth
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014508:Urea