Helicobacter pylori: practical guidelines for diagnosis and treatment

Ulcer disease can be cured in most patients. The discovery of an infectious cause of peptic disease has necessitated new diagnostic and treatment strategies for common upper gastrointestinal tract problems. Appropriate use of one of the many new tests to diagnose Helicobacter pylori can identify those individuals likely to benefit from antimicrobial treatment. Further refinement of antimicrobial regimens should ensure better patient compliance and maximize effective bacterial eradication. H. pylori eradication has been shown to favorably alter the rate of ulcer recurrence and to possibly reduce the risk of subsequent ulcer complications. This review is intended to provide clinicians with practical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection.