Approaches to the Prevention and Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Current therapies to heal peptic ulcers and eradicate Helicobacter pylori generally rely on a combination of antibacterial agents and anti-secretory drugs. The major factors affecting the outcome of these eradication therapies are the selection of antibiotic(s), daily dose, the dosage regimen(s) selected and duration of dosing and patient non-compliance due to side effects or number or tablets to be taken. Future therapies will seek to maximize effectiveness through taking account of these factors. The only new drug to be introduced in recent years uniquely for the eradication of H. pylori is ranitidine bismuth citrate, which when combined with a single antibiotic (clarithromycin) or two antibiotics has been shown to be highly effective (even against H. pylori “resistant” to clarithromycin, treated with the simple dual therapy).