Usefulness of rescue therapy in Helicobacter pylori eradication: retrospective longitudinal study

Abstract

Background: Scheme recommendations to eradicate Helicobacter pylori are widely available; this is a high priority pathogen for the search and development of new and effective treatments. Objective: To describe the therapeutic response of rescue therapy in H. Pylori infection, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, december 2016-april 2017. Methods: Retrospective longitudinal descriptive study in consecutive patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and confirmed H. pylori infection. Through the registry of the Gastroenterology Service, Department of Internal Medicine, positive patients for H. pylori were identified. Sociodemographic, clinical and diagnostic data were registered. The rescue treatment provided was orally for 10 days: levofloxacin 500 mg / day, esomeprazole 40 mg twice / day, amoxicillin 1 g twice / day. Confirmation of eradication was carried out 4-8 weeks after treatment. Information on adherence to treatment and side effects was recorded. Results: Thirty cases were analyzed; 56.7% (17) new patients and 43.3% (13) patients with at least one failure. In 16.0% (5) there was no confirmation of eradication; an eradication rate of 72.0% (18/25) was determined, 95% CI 50.6-87.9; being 78.5% (11/14) in new patients versus 63.6% (7/11) in previous failures, 95% CI -6.9- 54.0, p = 0.318. Discussion: The eradication rate in this group of patients was not satisfactory. Currently, treatment with levofloxacin is recommended as second-line or rescue therapy in regions with low or high resistance to clarithromycin, although resistance to quinolones has increased in recent years in several countries.