21 Helicobacter Pylori (HP) Infection Risk in Newborn from HP Positive Mothers.

Abstract

Experimental data on long term helicobacter pylori (HP) infection indicate that inflammation can develop in gastric mucosa after infection so that it could be very important the prevention of neonatal and childhood infection. Few reports have been published concerning horizontal and vertical transmission of HP infection (1,2,3).We investigated newborns from HP positive mothers to evaluate HP infection transmission. From June 2002 to December 2004 we evaluated 165 pairs mother-newborn. Mothers: serological test for HP antibodies (HPab; Helicobacter pylori IgG Elisa, Eurospital, Italy) and stool antigen testing (Helori, Eurospital, Italy); urea Breath test (UBT) was performed only in positive cases.Newborns: stool antigen testing (Helori, Eurospital) in the first month of life and every six months until eighteen months or three years in positive cases, in which we evaluated HPab against CAG-A (Cag-A IgG EIA,Radim, Italy) at three months. Statistical analysis: chi-square test.Preliminary results.Mothers: 62/165 (37.5%) were both serological and stool-antigen testing positive. UBT in 57/62 (92%) resulted positive in 52/57 (91.2%). 649 stool samples of newborns have been analyzed: 3/52 (5.7%) resulted positive in first month of life (HPab against CAG-A all positive): one became negative at one year and two cases were still positive at eighteen months.No newborns of negative mothers had a positive antigen stool testing, with a statistical difference compared to newborns from positive mothers (p<0.05). Conclusion. HP infection could be acquired in neonatal age from HP positive mothers. Stool antigen testing represents an easy and non-invasive method for the diagnosis of infection in newborns.