Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Gastric Mucosa Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis for Detecting Helicobacter pylori and Antibiotic Resistance
Published on: March 7, 2025
Otitis media with effusion: a possible role for Helicobacter pylori?
Tanya Fancy1, Peter H Mathers, Hassan H Ramadan
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Objectives:
To compare Helicobacter pylori prevalence rates in the nasopharynx of pediatric patients with and without otitis media with effusion (OME).
Study Design:
Prospective, controlled.
Methods:
The study group consisted of patients undergoing adenoidectomy for persistent OME. A control group of patients with no history of OME undergoing adenoidectomy was simultaneously enrolled. As a substudy, middle ear effusion samples were also analyzed for Helicobacter pylori. Polymerase chain reaction assays were run by using primers against the Helicobacter pylori gene.
Results:
Helicobacter pylori was detected in the adenoids of 10 of 45 study group patients, and 6 of 37 controls (P = 0.49). Thirty-two percent of middle ear aspirates were positive for Helicobacter pylori.
Conclusion:
The current study confirms the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the nasopharynx and middle ear space, but our results do not support a role for this bacterium in the pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion.
Related Concept Videos
Gastritis II: Pathophysiology
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
Peptic Ulcer
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
Peptic Ulcer Disease II: Pathophysiology
Damaging agents such as Helicobacter pylori, gastric acid, pepsin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can weaken the mucosal defense, allowing hydrogen ions to infiltrate back and harm epithelial cells.
Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
