Briefly noted: A recent survey study (N Du et al. JPGN Reports: 2021; 2: p e033. doi: 10.1097/PG9.0000000000000033. Full Text: Assessment of Community Pediatric Providers’ Approach to Children With Helicobacter pylori) found that pediatric providers had poor knowledge and/or adherence to pediatric H pylori guidelines.

Key findings:

• Over a third of the respondents reported incorrectly testing patients for H. pylori while they were taking proton pump inhibitors.
• 17% (n=17) incorrectly preferred blood serology as testing modality
• 63% (n=64) relied on symptom resolution as indication of cure

My take: It would be interesting to compare pediatric gastroenterology provider responses to general pediatric providers. It is likely that a much higher percentage would be following established guidelines. One area of the guidelines that I think should be changed would be encouraging increased use of quadruple therapy in children, especially if resistance testing is not performed; this change would better align with adult guidelines. In adults, quadruple therapy has been associated with increased cure rates.

Related blog posts:

• ACG Guideline for Helicobacter Pylori | gutsandgrowth
• Rifabutin-based Triple Therapy for H pylori | gutsandgrowth
• It is Getting Harder to Treat H pylori -Here’s Why
• Understanding Resistance to Helicobacter pylori | gutsandgrowth
• Salvage Therapy and Standard Therapy for H pylori | gutsandgrowth
• High Rates of Helicobacter Pylori Resistance | gutsandgrowth
• What is evidence-based medicine for H pylori? gutsandgrowth
• H pylori –useful advice gutsandgrowth
• Twyman’s Law | gutsandgrowth
• Updated Pediatric Helicobacter Pylori Guidelines