Two‐week eradication regimen for metronidazole‐resistant Helicobacter pylori

At present there is no generally accepted treatment regimen for eradicating metronidazole‐resistant Helicobacter pylori. This study determines the eradication rate after treatment with 40 mg omeprazole o.m. and 500 mg amoxycillin q.d.s. for 14 days, with 120 mg tripotassium dicitrato bismuthate q.d.s. for the first week (Days 1–7) and 750 mg ciprofloxacin b.d. for the second week (Days 8–14). Thirty patients (16 male, mean age 45 years, range 16–80 years) with duodenal ulcers (n= 18) or non‐ulcer dyspepsia (n= 2) and metronidazole‐resistant H. pylori detected by histology, culture, in vitro sensitivity tests and a positive 13C‐urea breath test entered the study. Follow‐up was by 13C‐urea breath test at the end of treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Eradication was denned as a negative 13C‐urea breath test at least 1 month after finishing treatment. H. pylori was successfully eradicated in 21/30 (71%) patients (median follow‐up 10.2 months, range 4–12 months). A pre‐treatment ciprofloxacin‐resistant strain was isolated in 1/9 patients in whom eradication failed. Of 30 patients 29 completed the 2‐week regimen; one patient experienced dizziness after 3 days of treatment. The most common side‐effect was increased stool frequency (n= 6). This 2‐week treatment regimen for metronidazole‐resistant H. pylori is well tolerated and achieves an eradication rate of 70%.