Gabriela N. 1, Malina A. 1, Felicia G. 1, 2, Stoicescu M. 1, 2, Munteanu M. 1, Mihaela B. 1, 2
1 Marie Curie Children’s Emergency Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
2 University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Carol Davila Bucharest, Romania
Abstract
The correct diagnosis and effective treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) gastric infection are essential in controlling this condition. The methods available have both advantages and limitations related to factors such as the level of technical difficulty, costs and extensive accessibility in hospitals. Bacterial culture from the gastric biopsy is the gold standard technique and recommended for antibiotic susceptibility tests. Many patients investigated for H. Pylori infection have been taking antibiotics or following a non steroidal anti-inflammatory treatment beforehand. These factors influenced the culture. We present the case of a 15-year -old girl with continuous pain in the upper abdomen that woke her in the early hours of the morning for several months, and nausea. She also has a psychiatric condition, having attempted suicide repeatedly. This case report presents some of the most relevant diagnostic methods for H pylori infection, as well as the influences from previously followed treatments, environmental factors (i.e. smoking) and conditions which influenced the grows colonies. In the case of a negative culture and in the absence of response to the empirical therapy based on current antibiotics (amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole), we consider it is useful to use other methods when it comes to detecting the primary antibiotic resistance.