Recurrence rate of H. pylori after successful eradication and second eradication therapy after initial failure of treatment

Three hundred thirty-three patient (116 gastric ulcer, 119 duodenal ulcer, 98 gastritis) who were successfully eradicated were enrolled in the study of H. pylori recurrence rate. H. pylori status was determined by histology, rapid urease test, 13C-urea breath test. The mean of the follow-up period was 13.3 months (2-56 months), and 15 patients showed negative to positive conversion of H. pylori. The recurrence rate was 4.4% for one year and 8.3% for two years using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Second eradication therapy after initial failure is another concern. Nineteen patients were assigned to receive an 1-week new triple therapy (clarithromycin, metronidazole and PPI), in whom a 2-week course of dual therapy (amoxicillin plus PPI) failed (group1). Another 15 patients in whom the 1-week new triple therapy failed were switched to the 2-week course of dual therapy plus ecabet sodium (group2). H. pylori was eradicated in 84.2% (16/19) of patients in group1 and 86.7% (13/15) in group2.