Significance of Campylobacter pylori

There is an explosion of interest in the role of Campylobacter pylori as a cause of active chronic gastritis. This curved spiraled microorganism can readily be detected within the mucus gel covering the stomach mucosa, especially in patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease or non-ulcer dyspepsia. To what extent this intriguing microorganism is causally related to peptic ulcer disease remains to be elucidated, but all the evidence which is available so far supports a pathogenetically important role. There appears to be a striking discordance between in-vitro sensitivity and in-vivo efficacy of antibiotic therapy. At present, the combination of colloidal bismuth subcitrate and amoxycillin or tinidazole appears most effective in temporary elimination of these microorganisms.