[Helicobacter pylori infection: the efficacy of a short course of azithromycin and fleroxacin treatment.].

The aim of this open pilot study was to assess the efficacy of a short course of fleroxacin and azithromycin in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Seventeen patients were included. All had H. pylori infection confirmed by urease test and culture. Eight patients had non-ulcer dyspepsia, 8 had duodenal ulcer and 1 had gastric ulcer. The patients were given omeprazole 40 mg on days 1-14, fleroxacin 400 mg on days 7-14 and azithromycin 500 mg on days 7 and 8. Side effects were assessed on a scale 0-4. The patients were gastroscoped 3 months after the treatment finished and urease test and H. pylori culture repeated. If both were negative eradication was regarded as successful. Six patients (35%) were H. pylori negative. However, only 1 (13%) of the patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia became H. pylori negative, whereas 5 (56%) with peptic ulcer did (P=0,131). The mean side effect score for patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia was 12.3, but 2.3 for patients with peptic ulcer (p<0,01). It is concluded that a short course with fleroxacin and azithromycin is inadequate for treatment of H. pylori infection.