Antimicrobial Resistance and the Successful Eradication of Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastroduodenal Ulcers in Vietnamese Children.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infections induce chronic gastric mucosal inflammation and peptic ulcer disease, and eradication is recommended.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate antibiotic resistance and H. pylori eradication rates in children with gastroduodenal ulcers in Vietnam.

METHODS

We performed gastroduodenal endoscopies, H. pylori cultures, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline, and levofloxacin) In children with gastroduodenal ulcers at Children's Hospital 2 from November 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 76 participants were studied, with an average age of 9.3 ± 2.8 years (range: 4-15 years), including 52.6% males and 47.4% females. The antibiotic resistance rates were clarithromycin, 92.1%; amoxicillin, 50%; levofloxacin, 31.6%; metronidazole, 14.5%; and tetracycline, 0%. The successful eradication rate was 44.7%. Bismuth increased the eradication rate by 3.69-fold that without bismuth (p = 0.030). The eradication rate of levofloxacin was high (100%, p = 0.038) compared with other antibiotics. The effectiveness of high-dose amoxicillin in cases with >50% H. pylori amoxicillin resistance was only 32.6% (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

Increased antibiotic resistance among H. pylori resulted in decreased eradication efficacy, which was 44.7% in this study. Drug combinations, such as levofloxacin and bismuth, can increase the H. pylori eradication efficacy in children.