Changes in the Antibiotic Resistance Rates of Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated in Tertiary Medical Institutions in Seoul / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Patient compliance and resistance to antibiotics are main factors determining the success of Helicobacter pylori eradication. This study provides basic data to verify the efficacy of currently implemented eradication therapy and reports changes in H. pylori resistance to all antibiotics used at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from 2004 to 2010. METHODS: We investigated the resistance rates to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin in 88, 100, and 47 strains isolated from adult patients without H. pylori eradication history in 2004, 2007, and 2010. RESULTS: The resistance rate to amoxicillin increased from 5.0% in 2007 to 10.6% in 2010. The resistance rate to clarithromycin increased from 10.2% in 2004 and 11.0% in 2007 to 14.8% in 2010. However, no difference was observed in the resistance rate to metronidazole, and strains resistant to tetracycline were not detected at all in this study. The resistance rates to quinolone lingered at 15-17% for 3 years. The non-resistant strains to antibiotics accounted for 56% of the total in 2004 and 62% in 2007. In contrast, a decreasing tendency was found for those strains in 2010 (43%). No significant differences were shown in the multi-drug resistance rate or the co-resistance rates of amoxicillin and clarithromycin over the 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: We showed increased resistance rates to clarithromycin and amoxicillin over the last 7 years, aligning with the results of previous studies performed domestically. Efforts are needed to inhibit the increase in resistant bacteria to maintain the effectiveness of eradication therapy.