Proportion of Helicobacter pylori Among Dyspeptic Patients Detected by Molecular Methods in a Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka

Abstract

AttachedBackground: Infection with H elicobacter pylori is considered as a major cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. More than half of the world's population is infected with H. pylori. In Sri Lanka various groups have reported a prevalence ranging from 3% to 70% over the last decade. Objectives: Theaimofthisstudy was to determine the current proportion of H. pyloriand risk factors for H. p ylo ri infections. Patients and Methods: the study was a cross sectional, descriptive study in which 100 dyspeptic patients who were required to undergo endoscopy examination were included. The study was carried out at a Teaching Hospital in Sri Lanka. In-house urease test and PCR amplification of the glm M gene of H. pylori was performed to diagnose H. pylori infection. A questionnaire was filled to collect sododemographic data from the dyspeptic patients. Results: Eighteen dyspeptic patients were positive for H p ylo ri by both in-house CLO (Campylobacter-like organism test) test and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Ten of cases were male (18%) while eight were female (17%). There was no assodation between the demographic factors and risk of H pylori infection. Condusions: The proportion of H. pylori infections was found to be 18% in the study population. There was no significant assodation with H. pylori and the studied demographic factors