Prevalence of H. pylori infection in family members of H. pylori positive patients and its influence on the reinfection rate after successful eradication therapy:: A two-years follow-up

Introduction: Living conditions (e.g. domestic crowding) may influence the infection rate. Some studies suggested that the reapperance of H. pylori in H. pylori positive patients after successful eradication therapy might be a result of transmission by H. pylori positive spouses. Therefore this study has been performed to evaluate the effect of the H. pylori status of family members on the reinfection rate of H. pylori positive patients after successful eradication therapy. Methods: 108 H. pylori positive patients (64 male, 44 female, aged 48.7 years, range 18-76 years) who presented with dyspeptic symptoms for upper GI-endoscopy have been included into this study. H. pylori status has been defined by culture and/or histology, rapid urease test and serology. For eradication therapy patients received omeprazole 20 mg bd, clarithromycine 250 mg bd and metronidazole 400 mg bd. H. pylori status was controlled by C-13-urea breath test 28 days (n = 96), 6 (n = 35), 12 (n = 28) and 24 months (n = 25) after eradication therapy. Additionally H. pylori status of 170 family members (82 spouses, 68 children, 20 siblings/parents, aged 3-83 years) was defined by C-13-urea breath test (n = 167), upper GI-endoscopy (n = 2) or serology (n = 1). Results: The eradication rate was 98% (94/96). H. pylori prevalence in all family members was 40% (56% in spouses, 20% in children). No reinfection has been found in successful eradicated patients within the two-years follow-up. Discussion: These results suggest that reinfection is not dependent on the H. pylori prevalence in family members and that H. pylori reinfection after successful eradication therapy is an unlikely event.