History of Helicobacter infection

Helicobacter pylori infection is now recognized as the cause of most cases of chronic gastritis, and a major causal factor in peptic ulcer disease. However, though the presence of intragastric bacteria has been recognized for many years, the connection between H. pylori and peptic ulcers has only been established during the last decade. Pathological studies have suggested that intragastric bacteria damage the gastric mucosa, reducing its resistance to acid, while epidemiological studies have suggested that a non-physiological factor, such as bacterial infection, is involved in the development of peptic ulcer. Subsequently, H. pylori, associated with chronic gastritis, was identified in gastric biopsies from patients with peptic ulcer. Eradication of H. pylori has been shown to reduce the recurrence of peptic ulcer after ulcer healing, and such treatment is now widely accepted.