[Clinical significance, epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of Campylobacter pyloridis]

In 1983, bacteriological examinations of gastric epithelium isolated a new species of bacteria, the so-called Campylobacter pyloridis. These bacteria were found in 50% of the gastroscopic examinations from patients with dyseptic disorders. C. pyloridis is a gram-negative curved bacterium. Up to now it has been found on the surface of the human gastric epithelium. C. pyloridis is rarely isolated from the healthy gastric epithelium. The gastric epithelium containing C. pyloridis mostly suffers from inflammatory infiltration or from pathological changes like chronic gastritis of type B. The route of infection is unknown. C. pyloridis has not yet been isolated outside of the human stomach. For laboratory diagnosis of a disease caused by C. pyloridis, the bacterium has to be isolated from gastric bioptic specimen. Another possibility is to check for high serum antibody levels against C. pyloridis. Direct microscopic examinations of gastric epithelium are also possible. The positive urease test is the main criterion to differentiate C. pyloridis from other human pathogenic campylobacter species. As therapeutic agents are recommended: bismuthates, amoxicillin, furazolidone and tinidazole. These agents are able to eliminate C. pyloridis from gastric epithelium and to fade away the gastritis.