Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in stress-induced gastric mucosal injury

To determine the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit in the formation of gastric and duodenal mucosal injury in these patients.

Prospective cohort analysis in an 18-bed mixed medical and surgical closed format ICU in a teaching hospital.

Fifty consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit for emergency reasons and requiring mechanical ventilation were included.

H. pylori infection was detected by the laser-assisted ratio analyzer [13C]urea breath test (UBT). Gastric and duodenal mucosal lesions were assessed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and classified as minor (up to five erosions or submucosal hemorrhages) or major (more than five erosions or submucosal hemorrhages) mucosal injury.

Six patients were not eligible because the UBT could not be processed. Of the 44 eligible patients 22 were H. pylori positive by UBT and 22 H. pylori negative. Either minor or major gastric mucosal injury was found on endoscopy in 66 %. Of the 29 patients with minor mucosal injury 10 (34.5 %) were infected with H. pylori as indicated by positive LARA 13C-UBT. In contrast, of the 15 patients with major mucosal injury 12 (80%) were infected with H. pylori (p = 0.004). H. pylori was the only risk factor significantly associated with major mucosal injury in a multiple regression analysis (p = 0.019).

The severity of gastric and duodenal mucosal injury in critically ill patients during mechanical ventilation is significantly correlated with the presence of H. pylori infection.