The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7252 p784
7 June 2003

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Archives of Internal Medicine abstract (more)

Testing for H pylori not needed?

Most patients receiving long-term acid suppressing drugs are unlikely to have Helicobacter pylori infection. Therefore, routine testing for, and eradication of, the bacteria will not reduce treatment costs, according researchers from the United States.

In a study of 650 patients who were receiving acid suppression for peptic ulcer disease diagnosed in community practice, they found that only 38 per cent tested positive for H pylori (Archives of Internal Medicine 2003;163:1165).