Antimicrobial susceptibility of helicobacter pylori isolated from dyspeptic patients in a teaching hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Metronidazole resistance is emerging as an important cause of treatment failure of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] associated diseases. H. pylori strains isolated from 55 Saudi dyspeptic patients were tested for susceptibility to metronidazole [MTZ], ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline. Disc difusion method was used because it is practical, reproducible,clinically applicable,and it correlates well with MIC and is inexpensive.Overall MTZ resistance was found in 41 strains out of 55 isolates [74.6%]. Twenty five resistant strains were isolated from thirty-three female patients [76%]. Ampicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline resistance were 31% [17/55], 14.5% [8/55] and 8% [5/55] respectively. In conclusion, because of the high rates of resistance it is recommended that susceptibility of H. pylori to commonly used antibiotics be tested routinely to determine the appropriate treatment for peptic ulcer disease