Abstract
It is generally accepted that eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may reduce the risk of the development of gastric cancer. Recommendations for global generalized tests and treat all individuals detected positive for H. pylori infection are currently proposed. However, the bacterium is commensal and harmless for the vast majority of the infected population. Moreover, eradication may have detrimental consequences in several groups of patients. In the present review, the current epidemiological data and recommendations for eradication in connection with the possible beneficial effects of the colonization with H. pylori in diseases such as asthma and allergies or chronic gastro-intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and Barrett’ esophagus are presented the problems with increasing antibiotic resistance were also examined. Specific groups of patients where eradication of H. pylori may be necessary and endoscopic surveillance is advised were identified. Finally, based on the paradox of high H. pylori prevalence and low gastric risk as reported for areas of Africa, Asia, South America, and Greece, alternatives that may replace the widespread eradication of H. pylori with equal if not better results and more prudent use of the available financial resources are proposed. Mediterranean diets and alcohol and smoking reduction are among the well documented alternatives.
Keywords
Helicobacter pylori, eradication, gastric cancer, Mediterranean dietAbbreviations
AG: | atrophic gastritis |
ARF: | ADP-ribosylation factor |
ATGs: | autophagy related genes |
BMI: | body mass index |
CagA: | cytotoxin-associated gene A |
CD: | Crohn’s disease |
DC: | dendritic cell |
ESCC: | esophageal squamous cell carcinoma |
FUT2: | fucosyl transferase 2 |
GC: | gastric cancer |
H. pylori: | Helicobacter pylori |
IBD: | inflammatory bowel disease |
ICER: | incremental cost effectiveness |
IL-8: | interleukin-8 |
IM: | intestinal metaplasia |
MALT: | mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue |
MD: | Mediterranean diet |
OLGA: | operative link for gastritis assessment |
OLGIM: | operative link for gastric intestinal metaplasia assessment |
OMVs: | outer membrane vesicles |
OR: | odds ratio |
PAMPs: | pathogen associated molecular patterns |
PPIs: | proton pump inhibitors |
QALY: | quality-adjusted life year |
QoL: | quality of life |
SPEM: | spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia |
UC: | ulcerative colitis |
VacA: | vacuolating cytotoxin A |
Declarations
Author contributions
EK: Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision. IT: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. AV: Writing—review & editing. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval
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Consent to participate
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Consent to publication
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Availability of data and materials
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Funding
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Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024.