Bacterium commonly infecting the gastric mucosa in patients with ulcers. The underlying cause of ulcers, and implicated in the development of gastric cancer.
Bacterium that causes chronic inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach.
A bacterium found in gastric secretions, strongly associated with duodenal ulcers and gastric carcinoma.
Spiral-shaped bacterium found in the stomach. Generally acknowledged as the main cause for most peptic ulcers and many cases of chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach). This organism can weaken the protective coating of the stomach and duodenum (first part of the small intestines) and allow digestive juices to irritate the sensitive lining of these body parts. Treatment for gastritis or peptic ulcer typically requires antibiotics effective against H. pylori.
A bacterium which colonises the stomach. While it may not cause disease, it has a tendency to produce inflammation gastritis. This may progress in some people to peptic ulceration, and even to gastric cancer. The bacterium can be identified on blood testing or, more accurately, by obtaining a biopsy of the stomach wall by endoscopy. It can be eradicated by treatment with proton-pump inhibitors and antibiotics.
A motile, spiral, gram-negative bacterium that causes 90% of peptic ulcers, 80% of gastric ulcers, and, in some patients, gastric cancer or mucosal-associated lymphoid-type lymphomas. Treatment consists of the suppression of gastric acidity in addition to combined antibiotics.
A rod-shaped bacterium belonging to the gram-negative category, which resides within the stomach tissues and provokes inflammation of the stomach lining.
A bacterium now known to be the cause of most peptic ulcers as well as a factor in stomach cancer. The infection is probably acquired during childhood through person-to-person spread. There is an extremely high worldwide incidence of Helicobacter Pylori infection, with higher rates in developing countries. Of those infected, only about 15 per cent develop peptic ulcer disease, although 95 per cent of people with duodenal ulcers are found to be infected with Helicobacter Pylori. The bacterium is thought to damage the mucus-producing layer of the stomach and duodenum, bringing gastric acid into contact with the linings of these structures and cause ulceration.
There are several different ways of diagnosing Helicobacter Pylori infection. A breath test relies on the ability of the bacterium to split molecules of radio-tagged urea, releasing labelled carbon dioxide, which can then be detected in the breath. Tests to check for the presence of antibodies (proteins produced by the immune system) to the bacterium may be useful, but they cannot confirm that infection has been eradicated. A biopsy sample taken from the stomach or duodenal lining can be used to conduct chemical tests, for microscopic analysis, or cultured for the organism.
The combined treatment of acid-suppressing drugs and antibiotics has proven highly effective in eradicating the infection and achieving long-term recovery from peptic ulcers. Cases of reinfection after this treatment are rare.