Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining. It can cause chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers and increases the risk of gastric cancer.

Urease: An enzyme that converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. H. pylori uses urease-generated ammonia to buffer acid around itself.
Chronic gastritis: Long-lasting inflammation of the stomach lining. H. pylori commonly causes persistent inflammation, even without noticeable symptoms.
Urea breath test: A diagnostic test that detects labeled carbon dioxide after ingestion of labeled urea. It detects urease activity from active H. pylori infection without requiring endoscopy.
Barry Marshall: An Australian physician and microbiologist who helped establish the role of H. pylori in peptic ulcer disease. Marshall’s experiments and advocacy helped overturn the belief that bacteria could not persist in the stomach.
H. pylori eradication: Treatment intended to eliminate Helicobacter pylori infection from the stomach. Regimens differ in effectiveness, and treatment success must often be confirmed with testing.
Flagellum: A whip-like cellular structure that enables movement in many bacteria. H. pylori’s flagella help it move through stomach mucus toward the lining.
Peptic ulcer disease: A condition involving open sores in the stomach or upper small intestine lining. H. pylori is a major cause of ulcers in the stomach and duodenum.
Stool antigen test: A test that detects microbial antigens in a stool sample. It can identify active H. pylori infection and confirm eradication after treatment.
Robin Warren: An Australian pathologist who observed spiral bacteria in stomach tissue and investigated their association with gastritis. Warren’s tissue observations initiated the research that identified H. pylori’s clinical importance.
Clarithromycin resistance: Reduced susceptibility of bacteria to the antibiotic clarithromycin. Its prevalence varies by place and can make standard H. pylori regimens fail.

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