Pyloric Campylobacter infection and gastroduodenal disease

TLDR

A novel spiral Gram‑negative bacterium resembling Campylobacter was first isolated from the gastric mucosa of 11 gastritis patients in 1982. The study aimed to determine whether antibacterial regimens targeting this pyloric Campylobacter could permanently cure chronic dyspeptic disorders and peptic ulceration. The organism was isolated from 1–14 of 267 antral biopsies between 1983 and 1984 and cultured in three days on brain–heart infusion blood agar at 37 °C in a CO₂‑enriched atmosphere. The bacterium was cultured from 88 % of histologically positive patients and from none of those with normal mucosa; all isolates were susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, cephalosporins, gentamicin, bism.

Abstract

In 1982, a new spiral Gram-negative bacterium which was similar to those of the genus Campylobacter was isolated from the gastric mucosa of 11 patients with gastritis. From then on, the organism was isolated in a further 1-14 of 267 patients who underwent antral biopsy in Fremantle Hospital between January 1983 and September 1984. During. 1984, the bacterium was cultured from 88% of patients in whom it was detected histologically, and was not cultured from any patient with histologically normal gastric mucosa. The new bacterium, pyloric Campylobacter, grew in three days on brain–heart infusion blood-agar at 37° in an atmosphere with added CO2. All isolates tested were sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, cephalosporins, gentamicin and bismuth citrate; 80% of isolates were sensitive to metronidazole or tinidazole. It is suggested that pyloric Campylobacter infection is a major factor in the causation of dyspeptic disease and peptic ulceration. Antibacterial regimens directed against the bacterium may provide a permanent cure for these chronic disorders.