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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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Disease Progression

Know the symptoms and you can better assess which patients need testing.

Common symptoms of H. pylori infection may include:

burning

Burning

Bloating

Bloating

Belching

Belching

Other symptoms may include early satiety, postprandial fullness, loss of appetite, nausea, flatulence, abdominal pain, vomiting, and halitosis.1-4

  • Acute infection is often asymptomatic1

The effects of untreated H. pylori infection can follow a clear, predictable progression.4

H. pylori infection is a common cause of gastric morbidity.5,6

Acquisition

Acquisition

 
Gastritis

Gastritis

 
Gastritis Chronic

Chronic Gastritis

 
Gastritis Atrophic

Atrophic Gastritis

 
Duodenal ulcers

Duodenal Ulcers

Gastric ulcers

Gastric Ulcers

H. pylori infection is the cause of most duodenal and gastric ulcers.4

  • Treating the infection has been shown to reduce ulcer recurrence and complications, including bleeding2
  • In NSAID* users, H. pylori infection is associated with a higher risk of peptic ulcer bleeding2
  • Guidelines recommend eradication of H. pylori infection prior to starting NSAID treatments7

*Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.

References
  • Meurer LN, Bower DJ. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection. Am Fam Physician. 2002;65(7):1327-1336.
  • Ables AZ, Simon I, Melton ER. Update on Helicobacter pylori treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007;75(3):351-358.
  • H. pylori infection. Mayo Clinic website. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/h-pylori/symptoms-causes/dxc-20318746. Published May 17, 2017. Accessed March 12, 2019.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Houghton J, Wang TC. Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer a new paradigm for inflammation-associated epithelial cancers. Gastroenterology. 2005;128(6):1567-1578.
  • Malfertheiner P, Megraud F, O’Morain CA, et al; European Helicobacter Study Group. Management of Helicobacter pylori infection—the Maastricht V/Florence Consensus Report. Gut. 2016;0:1-25. doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312288.