title: An efficiency comparison between three invasive methods for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infections: Culture from stomach biopsy, rapid urease test (CUTest(®)), and histologic examination of gastric biopsy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori is one of the most prevalent pathogenic bacteria in the world, and humans are its principal reservoir. There are several available methods to diagnose H. pylori infection. Disagreement exists as to the best and most efficient method for diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this paper, we report the results of a comparison between three invasive methods for H. pylori diagnosis among 193 patients: culture, biopsy for histologic examination, and rapid urease test (CUTest(®)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that all three methods have a high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of infections caused by H. pylori. However, the culture method, which is not used routinely, also showed high sensitivity, probably due to biopsies' seeding within 30 minutes, using warm culture media, non-selective media, and longer incubation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not a routine test, culture from biopsy can be meaningful in identification of antibiotic-resistant strains of H. pylori and should therefore be considered a useful diagnostic tool.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel aperetz@poria.health.gov.il.
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Gastrointestinal Unit, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: On
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koifman
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brodsky
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Natlya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Isakovich
authors.affiliation: Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Tatyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Glyatman
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Unit, Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Poria, affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Galille, Israel.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paritsky
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D019937:Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014510:Urease
keywords: Culture; Gastric biopsy; Helicobacter pylor; Urease test