How is an infection with Helicobacter pylori treated?

Treatment for H pylori bacteria begins with seeking medical care from your health care provider. To determine if you have H pylori bacteria, your health care provider will ask you to undergo diagnostic tests.

Antibiotic treatments for H pylori infection

Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay of treatment. It is important to follow your antibiotic regimen precisely to avoid re-infection or recurrence. Most commonly, two antibiotics are given for 14 days. Examples of antibiotic treatments include:

• Amoxicillin
• Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
• Metronidazole (Flagyl)
• Tetracycline

Other medications to treat H pylori infection

Medications such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine H2-receptor antagonists, which decrease the amount of acid in the stomach, can also be effective treatments for peptic ulcer caused by H pylori.

Proton pump inhibitors that are effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer include:

• Esomeprazole (Nexium)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)
• Rabeprazole (Aciphex)

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists that are effective in the treatment of peptic ulcer include:

• Cimetidine (Tagamet)
• Famotidine (Pepcid)
• Nizatidine (Axid)
• Ranitidine (Zantac)

If you have diarrhea and vomiting, fluid and electrolyte replenishment is also a component of successful treatment.

What are the potential complications of an infection with Helicobacter pylori?

Left untreated, H pylori bacteria can result in bleeding ulcers, a serious and even life-threatening complication. You can help minimize your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care professional design specifically for you. Complications of H pylori bacteria include:

• Inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis)
• Perforated ulcer, which can lead to bleeding
• Stomach cancer
• Stomach ulcers

References:

H pylori and peptic ulcers. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/hpylori/. Accessed May 8, 2011.

Helicobacter pylori and peptic ulcer disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/. Accessed May 8, 2011.