Review – Diagnostic of Helicobacter pylori infection

Abstract

This past year, only a few articles concerning Helicobacter pylori endoscopic diagnosis were published but one aimed to develop a computer-aided diagnosis system based on linked color imaging. A meta-analysis also allowed to generate an algorithm useful to discriminate between non-infected and post-eradication cases. Concerning invasive tests, the best time to read the rapid urease test (RUT) was established, and the possibility of using leftover tissue from the RUT to culture the bacterium was also validated. Molecular biology was used on gastric biopsies to improve H. pylori detection, for example a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction managed to detect ‘occult’ bacteria. Concerning non-invasive tests, the urea breath test was shown to be interesting in case of upper-gastrointestinal bleeding to improve H. pylori detection. Different kits to detect H. pylori antigen in stools were evaluated. A study to develop an accurate method for predicting true H. pylori-uninfected patients was performed using logistic regression analysis with results from non-invasive parameters.

Keywords

• endoscopy
• gastric biopsy
• new generation sequencing
• rapid urease test
• serology
• stool antigen test
• urea breath test.