Cut-off value verification for 13C-urease breath test using infrared (IR) spectrometer in the diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

Campylobacter and Helicobacter are curved Gram-negative rods and gastrointestinal-producing agents. Campylobacter is one of the most frequent foodborne pathogens, producing self-limited diarrhea in most of the patients, although it can cause more serious symptoms and neurological complications in immunosuppressed patients. Microbiological diagnosis is only carried out in severe cases, culture being the reference method that also makes it possible to study possible resistance to commonly used antibiotics, since an increase has been observed in recent years. Helicobacter pylori is part of the gastrointestinal mucosa of half the world's population. It is related to various gastric pathologies and increases the risk of developing peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. For its diagnosis there are invasive and non-invasive methods, with their respective advantages and limitations. H. pylori eradication therapy is considered one of the pillars in the gastric cancer elimination strategy, therefore it is recommended in all symptomatic patients. In recent years, resistance to first-line antibiotics has increased, so a study of their sensitivity must be carried out using molecular methods.