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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2008; 14(8): 1244-1247
Published online Feb 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.1244
H pylori: Treatment for the patient only or the whole family?
Yavuz Selim Sari, Didem Can, Vahit Tunali, Orhan Sahin, Oguz Koc, Omer Bender
Yavuz Selim Sari, Didem Can, Vahit Tunali, Orhan Sahin, Oguz Koc, SB Istanbul Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Omer Bender, SB Okmeydani Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Author contributions: Sari YS designed the research; Sari YS, Koc O, Can D and Sahin O performed the research; Bender O analyzed the data; Sari YS and Tunali V wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Yavuz Selim Sari, SB Istanbul Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. yssari2003@yahoo.com
Telephone: +90-532-4175546
Fax: +90-212-3251742
Received: October 14, 2007
Revised: December 1, 2007
Published online: February 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To compare the effects of treatment of H pylori-infected individuals with the effects of treatment of individuals as well as all H pylori-infected family members.

METHODS: H pylori-positive patients with similar demographic specifications were prospectively randomized with respect to treatment, with a triple regimen of either patients and all H pylori-positive family members living together (groupI) or patients only (group II). Nine months after treatment, all patients were assessed for H pylori positivity.

RESULTS: There were 70 H pylori-positive patients in each group; patients in groupsIand II lived with 175 and 190 H pylori-positive relatives, respectively. Age, sex and H pylori positivity rate were similar in both groups of relatives. Nine months after 14 d standard triple therapy, H pylori positivity was 7.1% in groupIpatients and 38.6% in group II patients [P < 0.01, OR = 8.61 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.91-22.84].

CONCLUSION: The present results indicate bad environmental hygienic conditions and close intra-familial relationships are important in H pylori contamination. These findings indicate all family members of H pylori-positive individuals should be assessed for H pylori positivity, particularly in developing countries where H pylori prevalence is high; they also suggest patients, their spouses and all H pylori-positive family members of H pylori-positive individuals should be treated for H pylori infection.

Keywords: H pylori, Gastric adenocarcinoma, Intrafamilial infections, Gastric lymphoma, Peptic ulcer disease, Non-ulcer dyspepsia