Antibiotic resistance and heteroresistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates from symptomatic Vietnamese children: A prospective multicenter study

Helicobacter. 2023 Oct;28(5):e13009. doi: 10.1111/hel.13009. Epub 2023 Jul 27.

Abstract

Background: Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is increasing worldwide, with geographical variations, impacting the treatment outcomes. This study assessed the antibiotic resistance patterns of H. pylori in Vietnamese children.

Materials and methods: Symptomatic children undergoing gastroduodenoscopy at two tertiary Children's Hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City were recruited. Antral and corpus biopsies were obtained and cultured separately. Susceptibility to amoxicillin (AMO), clarithromycin (CLA), metronidazole (MET), levofloxacin (LEV), and tetracycline (TET) was determined using E-test. Polymerase chain reaction was performed on another antral biopsy to detect the urease gene, cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA), vacuolating cytotoxin A (vacA) genotypes, and 23S rRNA mutations conferring CLA resistance.

Results: Among 123 enrolled children, a high primary resistance rate was found for CLA (68.5%, 61/89), followed by LEV (55.1%), MET (31.5%), AMO (25.8%), and TET (1.1%). Secondary resistance rates were 82.1% (7/28), 71.4%, 53.6%, and 3.6% for CLA, LEV, MET, and TET, respectively. Multidrug resistance was frequent (67.7%), with common patterns including CLA + LEV (20.3%) and CLA + MTZ + LEV (15.2%). Heteroresistance was detected in eight children (6.5%). The A2143G mutation was detected in 97.5% (119/122) of children. 86.1% of children had positive cagA strains and 27.9% had multiple vacA genotypes. No factor was significantly associated with antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions: The alarming rate of antibiotic resistance for H. pylori, especially for CLA, with emerging multi- and hetero-resistant strains, pose a major treatment challenge that precludes CLA use as empirical therapy. Biopsies from both antrum and corpus can improve H. pylori culture, allowing tailored treatment based on antimicrobial susceptibility.

Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; 23S rRNA point mutations; antibiotic resistance; heteroresistance; symptomatic Vietnamese children.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Amoxicillin / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Clarithromycin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Helicobacter Infections* / drug therapy
  • Helicobacter pylori*
  • Humans
  • Levofloxacin / therapeutic use
  • Metronidazole / pharmacology
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Southeast Asian People
  • Tetracycline / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Clarithromycin
  • Metronidazole
  • Amoxicillin
  • Levofloxacin
  • Tetracycline