RESUMO
Background: Our laboratory has carried out an epidemiological surveillance of Helicobacter pylori antimicrobial susceptibility since 1997. Aim: To report the antimicrobial susceptibility of H pylori strains, isolated in Chile from August 1997 to August 2000. Material and methods: Ninety one H pylori strains, obtained from antral gastric biopsies during upper gastrointestinal endoscopies were studied. Susceptibility towards clarithromycin, amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate and metronidazole was studied by an agar diffusion technique. Results: All strains were susceptible to amoxicillin and two strains were resistant to clarithromycin. Forty two percent of strains were resistant to metronidazole and 13 per cent were resistant to bismuth subcitrate. Conclusions: These results underscore the need to maintain an epidemiological surveillance of H pylori antimicrobial susceptibility, to modify its eradication therapy accordingly