Guinea worm infection in northern Nigeria: reflections on a disease approaching eradication

Global eradication of the guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) is near, although perhaps delayed a little by the discovery of a transmission cycle in dogs. It is therefore an appropriate time to reflect on the severe impact of this infection on the life of the communities where it was endemic prior to the start of the global eradication programme in 1981. From 1971 to 1974, we conducted a series of unpublished studies on guinea worm in a group of villages in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, where the infection was highly endemic. These studies demonstrated the high rate of infection in affected communities, the frequent recurrence of the infection in some subjects and the long‐standing disability that remained in some infected individuals. Immunological studies showed a high level of immediate hypersensitivity to adult worm and larval antigens but a downregulation of Th1‐type T‐cell responses to worm antigens. Freeing communities such as those described in this article from the scourge of guinea worm infection for good will be an important public health triumph.     

基于抗生素使用史的含铋剂四联方案对幽门螺杆菌的根除效果

目的：基于患者既往抗生素使用史,观察不同抗生素组合的含铋剂四联方案对幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori,Hp)感染的根除效果,为临床用药提供参考。方法：选择就诊于中南大学湘雅三医院的327名Hp感染患者,针 对患者既往抗生素使用情况分别采取A方案[艾司奥美拉唑+丽珠维三联(克拉霉素/替硝唑/枸橼酸铋钾)]、B方案[艾 司奥美拉唑+阿莫西林+克拉霉素+胶体酒石酸铋]、C方案[艾司奥美拉唑+多西环素+呋喃唑酮+胶体酒石酸铋],疗程 均为14 d,观察用药不良反应,分析不同根除方案疗效。结果：A,B,C三种方案意向性(intention to treat,I TT)分析 根除率分别为63.5%,76.2%,82.6%;符合方案(pre protocol,PP)分析根除率分别为76.7%,92.4%,96.4%。B,C方案 根除率均高于A方案(P<0.05)。治疗期间药物总不良反应发生率为20.2%,A,B,C三种方案不良反应发生率分别为 28.0%(14/50),10.7%(8/75),22.0%(40/182),症状大多轻微,能够耐受。结论：质子泵抑制剂(proton pump inhibitors, PPI)联合丽珠维三联方案Hp根除率低、不良反应发生率高;对于既往未抗Hp治疗、未使用阿莫西林及克拉霉素的患 者,选用阿莫西林、克拉霉素的含铋剂四联方案根除率高;对于以往接受抗Hp治疗失败的,或者既往反复使用多种 抗生素的患者,选用呋喃唑酮、多西环素的含铋剂四联方案仍可获得较高的Hp根除率,但其药物不良反应发生率 较高。     

Treatment of perforated gastroduodenal ulcer by simple suture followed by Helicobacter pylori eradication

AIMS OF THE STUDY: To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in Vietnam in case of perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer and to evaluate efficiency of medical treatment to obtain eradication of HP and ulcer healing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eleven patients with perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer underwent surgical suture. HP infection was diagnosed by urease test and pathologic examination of peroperative antral biopsies, and by postoperative detection of HP-specific immunoglobulins G. HP infection was defined by positivity of at least one test. Medical treatment included omeprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin for 7 days followed by omeprazole for 3 weeks for duodenal ulcer and 5 weeks for gastric ulcer. Follow-up endoscopy with biopsies was performed 4 to 6 weeks after treatment cessation. RESULTS: Among 111 patients, 107 (96%) were infected by HP. The 4 patients non-infected by HP were treated by omeprazole alone and excluded from the study. Ulcer healed in 99 patients (93%). HP eradication was obtained in 102 patients (95%). The 8 patients with a non-healed ulcer and the 5 patients in whom HP eradication was not obtained at the first endoscopic control received additional medical treatment. Ultimately HP eradication and ulcer healing were obtained in all cases. CONCLUSION: In a country in which prevalence of HP infection is high, acid-reduction surgery is unnecessary in case of perforated gastro-duodenal ulcer treated by simple surgical closure.     

Efficacy of a tailored PCR-guided triple therapy in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

IntroductionResistance to clarithromycin and fluoroquinolones is increasing in many countries. We aimed to assess the efficacy of a tailored PCR-guided triple therapy versus an empirical triple therapy in the treatment of H. pylori infection.Patients and methodsFrench multicenter prospective open-label randomized study to assess H. pylori and resistance to clarithromycin and levofloxacin with GenoType HelicoDR® test. Patients of the control group were treated with empirical therapy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 days. Patients of the experimental group with clarithromycin-susceptible strains, clarithromycin-resistant/levofloxacin-susceptible strains, and with clarithromycin-resistant/levofloxacin-resistant strains received tailored therapy of PPI, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin for 7 days, PPI, amoxicillin, and levofloxacin for 10 days, and PPI, amoxicillin, and metronidazole for 14 days, respectively. H. pylori eradication was assessed by ¹³C urea breath test at least 28 days after the end of treatment.ResultsWe included 526 patients: 260 (49.4%) were randomly assigned to empirical triple therapy and 266 (50.6%) to tailored therapy. Clarithromycin and levofloxacin resistances were 23.3% and 12.8%, respectively. Follow-up urea breath test was available for 415 (78.9%) patients. Tailored therapy was superior to empirical therapy in terms of eradication (85.5% vs. 73.1%, RR = 1.85, 95%CI [1.25–2.78], p = 0.003). Findings were consistent in the susceptibility analysis using multiple imputation (RR = 1.61, 95%CI [1.14–2.27], P = 0.003) and per-protocol analysis (RR = 1.89, 95%CI [0.25–2.78], p = 0.003).ConclusionIn a country with a high level of clarithromycin resistance, tailored PCR-guided therapy was superior to empirical triple therapy for H. pylori eradication (https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01168063).