Prevalence of point mutations of Helicobacter pylori in paediatric age and impact on eradication therapy

Abstract

Background and aim.Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication fails in about 25–30% of children, particularly because of the occurrence of resistance to antibiotics [Oderda G, Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2000;14(Suppl. 3):59]. H. pylori clarithromycin resistance is increasing worldwide and different mutations are involved in its mechanisms being the point mutation A2143G, A2142G and A2142C the commonest. Recently, molecular methods have allowed to assess these mutations. The aim of our study is to establish the prevalence of primary clarithromycin resistance in the paediatric population of southern Italy, and the distribution of involved mutations, by using a novel method for real-time polymerase chain reaction.