Helicobacter Pylori infection; the challenging task of improving eradication rates in light of rising antibiotic resistance, a literature review

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection continues to be a major public health issue worldwide. A global systematic review shows that in 2015, approximately 4.4 billion individuals worldwide were estimated to be positive for H. pylori. Overwhelming evidence has demonstrated that H. pylori infection is associated with significant medical conditions including peptic ulcer disease, stomach cancer and MALToma. The consensus report from the Kyoto H. pylori conference in 2015 recommended that all H. pylori infections should be eradicated whenever they are found unless there are compelling reasons not to do so. However, increasing H. pylori antibiotic resistance has been reported globally over the past two decades coinciding with a continuous decrease in eradication success rates. To tackle this global problem, we need new antimicrobial drugs and treatment strategies but also a better understanding of the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria as well as improved diagnostic tools to guide clinicians in further optimizing currently available regimens. Key words: Helicobacter pylori, eradication, antibiotic resistance,