What is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) ?H. pylori is a bacteria that effects the stomach. The bacteria is so prevalent it may be present in more then half of the people world wide. That bacteria typically infects the stomach during childhood, but symptoms come later in life in the form of peptic ulcers or gastritis. It is able to invade the lining of the stomach where it remains safely protected by mucus from immune cells.
Once they have invaded the stomach lining they change the acidity by neutralizing stomach acids, thus making the stomach more vulnerable to harsh acids.
A number of other symptoms may be associated with H. pylori infection, including:
Take this quiz to see what you know!
1. Which of these tests is an appropriate noninvasive diagnostic test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection?
Answer Key:
1. D. All of the Above - According to an article published online in Family Practice News, “[n]oninvasive test are preferred and there are three choices: serology, urea breath tests, and stool antigen tests.”
2.
- Due to their limited specificity and sensitivity, among other reasons, according to an article published online in Family Practice News. Additionally, only the IgG tests are reliable and the IgM anti-H. pylori tests are not FDA approved.3. A . True - According to an article published online in Family Practice News, “one gold standard for diagnosis of H. pylori infections is histologic examination of gastric mucosal biopsies.”
4. B. Antibiotics - Patients taking antibiotics, bismuth, or PPIs can receive false negative results during urea breath tests, stool antigen tests, histology, and RUT tests.
5. B. Histology is suggestive but not diagnostic - The clinician should consider obtaining an IgG antibody test, as serology is not influenced by factors that reduce bacterial load.
For complete information, see:
“Decision Support in Medicine: Helicobacter pylori infection.”
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