Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via Stool Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis
Published on: May 16, 2025
Retrospective study on outcome of salvage Helicobacter pylori eradication therapies based on molecular genetic
Benjamin Blümel1, Hanna Goelz1, Manfred Kist1
1Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
Background:
Antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter (H.) pylori is usually determined by phenotypic methods. When H. pylori cannot be grown owing to contaminations or delay in transport of gastric tissue samples to the microbiological laboratory, molecular genetic testing is a reasonable alternative. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the outcome of salvage eradication treatments based on molecular genetic susceptibility testing.
Methods:
Data on 144 H. pylori PCR-positive gastric tissue samples of patients primarily with prior unsuccessful eradication treatments were retrospectively analyzed. Eradication treatments were recommended based on genotypic clarithromycin and/or levofloxacin susceptibility as tested by real-time PCR or reverse hybridization. Treatment success was assessed by attending physicians using urea breath test; stool-antigen ELISA; and microbiology/histopathology.
Results:
Overall success rate of molecular genetic testing-guided salvage treatments was low (68%); none of the regimens chosen was significantly better than another. Multivariable logistic regression analysis did not reveal any factors that may predict treatment failure.
Conclusions:
Eradication success was poor despite susceptibility testing. Gastroenterologists are advised to prescribe recommended salvage treatments, considering recommended dosages and prolonged treatment duration.
Related Concept Videos
Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
What is Genetic Engineering?
Genetics of Speciation
Predicting Reaction Outcomes
Magnetic Susceptibility and Permeability
When diamagnetic materials are placed under an external magnetic field, the moments opposite to the field are induced. Hence, the susceptibility for diamagnets has a minimal negative value of 10-5–10-6. Since...
Outcomes of Glycolysis
Cellular respiration can occur aerobically (with oxygen) or anaerobically (without oxygen). In the presence of oxygen, cellular respiration starts with glycolysis and continues with pyruvate...

