Korean J Gastroenterol.  2004 Sep;44(3):126-135.

Antibiotic Resistance of Helicobacter pylori Isolated from Korean Patients in 2003

• Kim JM
• Kim JS
• Jung HC
• Kim N
• Song IS

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Development of antibiotic resistance is a significant clinical problem in the eradication of H. pylori. To select an appropriate regimen, systematic information on antibiotic resistance is mandatory. Thus, we investigated the distribution of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and evaluated the antibiotic resistance of H. pylori isolates from Korean patients in 2003. METHODS: The susceptibility of 65 isolates obtained in 2003 to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin were determined by agar dilution method. RESULTS: Resistance rates of H. pylori to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, tetracycline, azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin were 18.5%, 13.8%, 66.2%, 12.3%, 32.3%, and 33.8%, respectively. Multi-drug resistance rate of H. pylori was 47.7%. Especially, 6.2% of the H. pylori isolates were resistant to both amoxicillin and clarithromycin. In addition, resistance to amoxicillin and clarithromycin resulted in decreasing tendency of the eradication efficacy for H. pylori. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the antibiotics used for H. pylori eradication show high resistance rates in Korea. Furthermore, continuous surveillance of antibiotic susceptibilities should be needed and further increases in antibiotic resistance would require susceptibility testing before treatment to maximize the efficacy of H. pylori treatment.

Keyword

Antibiotics; Helicobacter pylori; MIC; Resistance

MeSH Terms

Aged
*Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
English Abstract
Female
Helicobacter Infections/microbiology
Helicobacter pylori/*drug effects
Humans
Korea
Male
Middle Aged