[Campylobacter pylori gastritis: review of diagnostic methods]

The presence of Campylobacter pylori in gastric mucosa is a proof of active gastritis. Diagnostic methods are based on endoscopy: culture--histology--cytology--urease test, or on noninvasive tests: C14 urea breath test and serology. The principles, results (sensitivity--specificity), advantages and problems of each test are discussed as well as the choice of a diagnostic method. In practice, we recommend the use of two methods, a morphological one (histology or cytology) and another based on bacterial activity (urease test or culture).