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COVID-19 Update

Healthcare institutions and laboratories are encouraged to exercise and continue to practice appropriate clinical precautions when handling breath samples from patients. These groups should refer to their own policies on how to handle its COVID-19 response and should respond appropriately as the COVID-19 situation applies to and impacts its breath testing in its facilities.

Judgement on whether or not to test a patient using the BreathTek® UBT for H. pylori Kit should continue to be made by the patient’s prescribing physician and in collaboration with local testing laboratories on an individual patient basis.

While the COVID-19 situation continues to be dynamic, Otsuka sources the components of the BreathTek® UBT in the United States and currently does not foresee disruptions to its supply.

April 202005US20EBP0007

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What Is <span class="hpylori-bold">H. pylori<span class="hpylori-bold">?

H. pylori—a common chronic infection1

H. pylori is a spiral-shaped, gram-negative bacterium found in the gastric mucosa or adherent to the epithelial lining of the stomach.2 H. pylori infection is linked to a number of important upper gastrointestinal (GI) conditions, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer.*3

Epidemiology

hpylori stats
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    Nearly 1 in 3 adults and 25% of children† in the United States are affected by H. pylori4,5

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    Nearly 6 out of 10 Americans born outside of the United States are infected with H. pylori6

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    About 5 out of 10 Americans over the age of 50 are infected with H. pylori7

 

Nearly 1/3 of patients in North America who are examined for dyspepsia are infected with H. pylori.7

*Global occurrence rates are undetermined for dyspepsia, 10%-15% for ulcers, and ~1% for gastric cancer.8

†Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III of children ages 6 to 19 years.

References
  • Graham-Lomax K, Graham DY. Contemporary Diagnosis and Management of H. pylori-Associated Gastrointestinal Diseases. 3rd ed. Newtown, PA: Handbooks in Health Care Co; 2005.
  • Helicobacter pylori and peptic ulcer disease: the key to cure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/ulcer/keytocure.htm. Updated September 28, 2006. Accessed March 12, 2019.
  • Chey WD, Wong BCY; Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology. American College of Gastroenterology guideline on the management of Helicobacter pylori infection. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(8):1808-1825.
  • Everhart JE, Kruszon-Moran D, Perez-Perez GI, Tralka TS, McQuillan G. Seroprevalence and ethnic differences in Helicobacter pylori infection among adults in the United States. J Infect Dis. 2000;181(4):1359-1363.
  • Staat MA, Kruszon-Moran D, McQuillan GM, Kaslow RA. A population-based serologic survey of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents in the United States. J Infect Dis. 1996;174(5):1120-1123.
  • Fee C, Nemer JA. Acute infectious gastrointestinal disorders. Hosp Physician Emerg Med Board Rev Manual. 2004;8(pt 1):2-11.
  • Ables AZ, Simin I, Melton ER. Update on Helicobacter pylori treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75(3):351-358.
  • Ernst PB, Peura DA, Crowe SE. The translation of Helicobacter pylori basic research to patient care. Gastroenterology. 2006;130(1):188-206.