Helicobacter pylori therapy and clinical perspective

Helicobacter pylori induces chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer in a small fraction of the colonised population. Three decades after the discovery of H. pylori and disclosure of an urgent need for eliminating the bacterium in patients, it seems that we are still in the first steps of dealing with this mysterious organism. Treatment of H. pylori is a complex dilemma for clinicians, a repeating sentence by many scientists who spend years on this research topic. Apart from many modifications in initial first-line treatment of H. pylori, gastroenterologists are unable to overcome the problem of therapeutic failure. Choosing the best regimen in any region depends on many factors, which have been the focus of many randomised clinical trials. A potential increase in efficacy of future therapies may be influenced by adding the novel potassium-competitive acid blocker vonoprazan. Undeniably, in-depth analysis is necessary to propose more effective therapeutic regimens. Meanwhile, we recommend the performance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing before any antimicrobial prescription. (C) 2018 International Society for Chemotherapy of Infection and Cancer. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.