Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Antibiotic Resistance via String Test Coupled With qPCR Method: A...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Helicobacter pylori infection is a global health concern with rising antibiotic resistance.
• Accurate detection of H. pylori and its resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare diagnostic methods for H. pylori infection and antibiotic resistance.
• To evaluate the efficacy of gastric fluid qPCR (GF-qPCR) against other methods.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 300 participants compared urea breath test (UBT), rapid urease test (RUT), gastric mucosa qPCR (GM-qPCR), and GF-qPCR.
• Antibiotic resistance profiling was conducted using qPCR on gastric fluid and mucosal samples.

Main Results:

• GF-qPCR demonstrated superior sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy compared to UBT, RUT, and GM-qPCR for H. pylori detection.
• Antibiotic resistance rates for clarithromycin and levofloxacin were notably higher in gastric fluid samples than in mucosal tissue samples.
• Kappa value of 0.792 indicated good consistency among the four diagnostic methods.

Conclusions:

• Gastric fluid qPCR is a highly promising method for diagnosing H. pylori infection.
• GF-qPCR effectively detects H. pylori antibiotic resistance, aiding in personalized treatment strategies.
• This method has the potential to guide clinical decisions for H. pylori management.