[Confirmation of Helicobacter pylori eradication following first line treatment. How and when?]

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication treatment should always be thought of as a package which includes first and second line therapies together. So, testing of H. pylori eradication following first line treatment should always be performed and should be explained to the patient with the prescription of the triple therapy. For confirmation of H. pylori eradication both the urea breath test and the biopsy based test (when endoscopy is clinically indicated) are recommended. Stool antigen test is also an accurate test although it seems to have a lower diagnostic value after eradication treatment. Testing should be performed at least of 4 weeks after treatment. Serology with pre and 6 months post treatment samples is usually not recommended except in the case of H. pylori eradication campaign in populations at high risk for stomach cancer for instance.