Analysis of Correlation between the Seven Important <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i>) Virulence Factors and Drug Resistance in Patients with Gastritis

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between seven important <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> virulence factors and antibiotic resistance in patients with gastritis. <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> strains isolated from 33 patients with gastritis were examined. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by GenoType® HelicoDR (Hain Life Science, Germany) test kit and RT-PCR. The virulence-factors were determined using conventional PCR. 39% of patients were resistant for clarithromycin and 27% of patients were resistant for fluoroquinolone. 15% of patients were resistant to both clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone. The <i>H</i>. <i>pylori vacA m1/s2</i> genotype was the most frequent allelic combination. Patients were possessed the <i>vacA s1</i>, <i>m1</i> (6.1%); <i>s1</i>, <i>m2</i> (6.1%); <i>s2</i>, <i>m1</i> (15.1%); and <i>s2</i>, <i>m2</i> (3.0%) genotypes. 94% of patients with gastritis were positive for <i>H</i>. <i>pylori napA</i> gene. Also, there were no <i>dupA</i> gene-positive gastritis patients. There was no significant correlation between the <i>vacA</i>, <i>cagA</i>, <i>oipA</i>, <i>hpaA</i>, <i>babA</i>, <i>napA</i>, <i>dupA</i>, <i>ureA</i>, <i>ureB</i> virulence genes, clarithromycin, and fluoroquinolone resistance. Herein, we report that the relationship between the <i>H</i>. <i>pylori napA</i> gene and gastritis. Although we found a correlation between <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> virulence factor and clinical outcome, there is a need for further studies to enlighten the relation between <i>H</i>. <i>pylori</i> virulence genes and antibiotic resistance.