SUPPRESSION OF GASTRIC UREASE ACTIVITY BY ANTACIDS

Campylobacter pylori (CP) infection among healthy employees at the section of gastroenterology was studied by means of the carbon-14 urea breath test. Fourteen of 46 individuals (30.4 % were infected with Campylobacter pylori (CP+ Eleven CP+ individuals were treated with a low-dose regimen of antacids (four tablets a day) for 2 weeks. The 14C recovery dropped from 8.36 ± 1.26 % before treatment to 5.70 ± 1.24 % (p = 0.023) approximately 12 h after the last intake of antacids, a 31.8 % reduction, indicating suppression but no eradication of the C. pylori infection. A new breath test 2 weeks after cessation of treatment indicated that the suppressive effect of antacid on C. pylori infection was short-lived. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.