Helicobacter pylori: Infection and new perspective for the treatment

Abstract

The alarming phenomenon of antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori suggests to pay close attention in the treatment. In particular, the clarithromycin resistance in H. pylori was designed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as high priority for antibiotic research in 2017 [1]. In Italy, the overall primary resistance to clarithromycin can be detected in 35.2% of cases; in France, it can be detected in 26% of cases, while in Spain, clarithromycin resistance is present in 27.2% of strains [2–4]. Natural/innovative strategies, as well as novel potentiators to restore the antibiotic susceptibility in resistant strains, could be used to improve the efficacy of H. pylori eradication, and they could be worthy to change attitude of medicine in dealing with the challenge known as H. pylori [5, 6]. Obviously, these therapeutic strategies should be used in patients infected by resistant H. pylori and in presence of coinfection with other pathogens responsible to develop severe gastric diseases [7]. On the basis of this evidence, the aim of this special issue was to collect research manuscripts and review manuscripts, case reports, and literature reviews with the objective to expand our knowledge in this innovative field.