title: [Maternal infection due to Helicobacter pylori does not increase the risk of the infection in the first trimester of the life of their infants].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  H. pylori infection is acquired early in childhood. However, there is little information available regarding the role of breastfeeding and neonatal acquisition of the infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate factors affecting the acquisition of H. pylori in newborns and infants from infected mothers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive mothers and their newborns were recruited into the study from the maternity unit, immediately after delivery. After signing informed consent, one stool sample from the mother was obtained before hospital discharge. Three stool samples of the newborns were then collected at home at 15, 60, and 90 days of life, for the detection of H. pylori antigen (Monoclonal HpSAg, sensitivity 94% and specificity 97%). The socio-epidemiological and biomedical variables were also analysed using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 32 mother-child pairs (64 subjects) were enrolled. The mean maternal age was 30.1±5.1 years, with 53% vaginal delivery, and 85% exclusively breastfed. There were 13 (40%) infected mothers. No H. pylori infection was detected in newborns and infants up to 3 months of follow-up. No significant differences were found in socioeconomic level between infected versus non-infected mothers (both groups mostly in the very high socioeconomic category: 28% and 32%, respectively, P=.15) and in the number of family members between infected versus non-infected mothers (3.8±0.8 vs 4.2±1.8 persons, P=.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite having a significant percentage of H. pylori-infected mothers, no newborn was infected at the third month of life. The protective role of breastfeeding cannot be ruled out.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Departamento de Pediatría y Cirugía Infantil, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Troncoso
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villagrán
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Macarena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vera
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neonatología, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estay
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Caroll
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología e Infección Gastrointestinal, Departamento de Gastroenterología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Escuela de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: pharris@med.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Breastfeeding; Helicobacter pylori; Infants; Lactancia materna; Lactantes