Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide. The prevalence of Hp infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) is unclear. Thus, the aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection in CF patients and to correlate H. pylori presence with CF expression.

Material and methods: The presence of H. pylori infection was assessed using a breath test with isotope-labeled urea in CF 79 patients compared to 302 healthy control subjects (HS).

Results: Fifteen (19.0%) CF patients were H. pylori positive. No statistical differences in the basic clinical parameters or in their distribution were documented. No clinical factor was an independent risk factor of H. pylori infection. The corrected prevalence of H. pylori infection in pediatric CF patients and HS was 14.4% and 9.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection in CF patients is not different from that in healthy subjects.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Epidemiology; Helicobacter pylori; Prevalence.