The changing profile of Helicobacter pylori primary antibiotic resistance in Singapore over two decades.

Abstract

ObjectivesAntibiotic resistance is a key reason for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) treatment failure and updated local data are important to guide the choice of empiric first‐line therapy. Clarithromycin‐based triple therapy (TT) is currently the first‐line treatment in Singapore. Our primary aim was to determine the change in pattern of primary antibiotic resistance of H. pylori in Singapore as well as TT success rate.MethodsA registry of H. pylori isolates was tested for primary antibiotic resistance and were analyzed from year 2001 to 2020. Treatment outcome data based on 13C‐urea breath test (13C‐UBT) results of empiric first‐line 2‐week TT from 2019 to 2020 were also analyzed retrospectively.ResultsA total of 387 H. pylori isolates were included. Rates of resistance to clarithromycin as well as tetracycline showed a downtrend in the last 5 years (clarithromycin: 2001–2002: 8.57%; 2007–2008: 14.14%; 2013–2014: 18.09%; 2019–2020: 13.71%; tetracycline: 2001–2002: 5.71%; 2007–2008: 7.07%; 2013–2014: 7.45%; 2019–2020: 0%). The resistance rate for amoxicillin remained low (2001–2002: 2.86%; 2007–2008: 5.05%; 2013–2014: 4.26%; 2019–2020: 7.26%). There was a steady increase in the rate of levofloxacin resistance (2001–2002: 5.71%; 2007–2008: 11.11%; 2013–2014: 15.96%; 2019–2020: 16.94%). From 2019 to 2020, the rate of successful TT was 91.67% (891/972).ConclusionThe latest rate of clarithromycin resistance in 2019 to 2020 remained below the threshold of 15% and eradication rates remain high; thus, TT remains appropriate as an empiric first‐line treatment in Singapore.