Annual Change of Primary Resistance to Clarithromycin among<i>Helicobacter pylori</i>Isolates from 1996 through 2008 in Japan

Abstract

The resistance rate of H. pylori infection to clarithromycin in Japan has increased gradually to approximately 30% from 1996 through 2004, and remained unchanged since 2004. Elderly and females were at high risk of having resistance to clarithromycin. Our results suggested that the level of clarithromycin resistance in Japan has now risen to the point where it should no longer be used as empiric therapy.