Helicobacter pylori
(hĕl‵ĭ-kō-băk-tĕr 
)
[Gr. helix, stem helic-, a twist + L bacter, fr bacterium ]
ABBR: H. pylori.
A motile, spiral, gram-negative bacterium that causes 90% of peptic ulcers, 80% of gastric ulcers, and , in some patients, gastric cancer or mucosal-associated lymphoid-type lymphomas. The bacterium sticks to the protective mucus in the stomach and to the epithelial cells that line it. Treatment consists of the suppression of gastric acidity in addition to combined antibiotics.
Incidence: The prevalence of infection with H. pylori varies from approx. 10% in Europe and North America to as high as 90% in adults in the developing world.
Diagnosis: Noninvasive diagnostic tests for H. pylori include stool antigen tests, urea breath tests, and serum antibody levels. Invasive tests include endoscopy, gastric biopsy, and biopsy with bacterial culture for H. pylori.