Standard triple therapy remains an important option for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (Hp) in developing countries because of its relatively low cost. However, salvage therapies after failure of this regimen remain undefined. The authors therefore investigate the efficacy of 1-week quadruple therapy as a second-line treatment of Hp infection after failure of standard triple therapy. Seventy-eight patients who failed Hp eradication using a 2-week bismuth-based triple therapy were enrolled and received a course of 1-week quadruple therapy (lansoprazole, 30 mg twice daily; bismuth subcitrate, 120 mg four times daily; clarithromycin, 500 mg twice daily; and amoxicillin, 1,000 mg twice daily) as a salvage regimen. The Hp status was reassessed 7 weeks after cessation of therapy. Among the 78 patients, Hp eradication was achieved in 65 (83%, 95% confidence interval = 75-91%) by intention-to-treat analysis. Only five (6%) patients had side effects, and all (100%) showed good drug compliance. Multivariate analysis disclosed that coffee drinking was an independent factor for treatment failure (odds ratio = 5.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-23.6, p = 0.028). The authors therefore conclude that their 1-week quadruple therapy is an effective salvage regimen for Hp infection after failure of standard triple therapy in the population examined. The benefits of this regimen include the high eradication rate, the short duration of treatment, fewer side effects, and good drug compliance. Coffee consumption possibly is an important factor in failure of the rescue regimen. The mechanisms underlying the association between coffee drinking and eradication failure require further research.