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| Pitfalls, pearls, and practicalities in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection1 |
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From the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine Roundtable, convened in January, 2005 to update primary care physicians on recent changes in the epidemiology and diagnosis of H. pylori infection:
“A positive result with serologic testing still gives no clear indication on whether to treat for H. pylori or not. The clinician should schedule the post-treatment test to confirm H. pylori cure at the same time as prescribing eradication therapy. Patients must be told that H. pylori eradication does not necessarily mean symptom resolution. Treating patients without active infection promotes antibiotic resistance among both H. pylori and other pathogens. We don’t yet know what to recommend about testing for H. pylori in NSAID users, but clearer data will emerge. Any health plans that manage active testing under prior authorization need to rethink that practice. Ultimately, active testing for H. pylori is not an issue of cost but an issue of best medicine.” |
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