Use of Commonly Prescribed Antibiotics Is Not Associated with Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Adults

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the association of the use of commonly prescribed antibiotics with prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a population of adult outpatients. Methods: All patients aged 15–79 years who visited the practice of a general practitioner (GP) between June and September 1996 in a suburban community near Ulm, a city in southern Germany, were asked to participate in the study. Infection status was determined with a ^l3C-urea breath test. In addition, the patients were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Overall, 475 outpatients were included in the study (response, 94.1%). A total of 266 patients (56.0%) reported a history of antibiotic treatment within the past 5 years, whereas 147 patients (30.9%) did not (62 patients (13.1%) did not know). Prevalence of infection in patients with a history of antibiotic medication during the past 5 years was 23.3%, whereas the prevalence of infection was 20.4% in subjects without antibiotic treatment (P = 0.283 after stratification for age). Control for other potential confounders by multivariable analysis did not materially alter the results. Conclusion: Coincidental antibiotic treatment is not associated with H. pylori prevalence in adults.

Key Words:

• Antibiotic treatment
• Helicobacter pylori
• observational study
• outpatients