Treatment with compound Lactobacillus acidophilus followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen as a rescue therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND/AIM: Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections has become more difficult because of increasing antibiotic resistance. We assessed the efficacy and safety of treatment with probiotics followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen as rescue treatment for H. pylori infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study examined patients with at least two H. pylori eradication failures. Patients were given a two-week compound Lactobacillus acidophilus (1 g t.i.d.), followed by a quadruple antibiotic regimen (esomeprazole [20 mg b.i.d.] + bismuth potassium citrate [220 mg b.i.d.] + tetracycline [750 mg b.i.d.] + furazolidone [100 mg b.i.d.]) for 10 days as rescue therapy. Eradication was evaluated using the ([13])C-urea breath test at 4 weeks after the end of therapy, and side effects were recorded. RESULTS: The records of 50 patients were examined. Four cases experienced treatment failure, and one case received replacement with metronidazole because of allergy to furazolidone. The eradication rate was 92.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 84.0–98.0%) in intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis and 91.8% (95% CI: 83.7–98.0%) in per protocol (PP) analysis. Side effects (mainly dizziness, dry mouth, and skin rash) occurred in 10 patients, all of which resolved after cessation of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who failed multiple attempts at H. pylori eradication may benefit from a treatment with probiotics followed by a tetracycline- and furazolidone-containing quadruple regimen.