Purpose
This study aims to estimate the resistance rate of
Helicobacter pylori
(
HP
) to commonly used antibiotics and analyze the potential influencing factors in northwest regions of China.
Patients and Methods
HP
-positive patients visiting the outpatient department of multiple hospitals were enrolled in the study. Then, gastric mucosal biopsy specimens were collected for
HP
isolation, culture, and investigation of the resistance rate of
HP
to amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin by Epsilometer test (E-test) antibiotic susceptibility testing. In addition, multi-drug resistance, the influence of
HP
eradication history, age, and region of residence on drug resistance rate were analyzed.
Results
In total, 198
HP
clinical strains were successfully isolated and cultured. The resistance rates of amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin were 16.16%, 85.86%, 7.58%, 46.46%, and 55.05%, respectively. The multi-drug resistance rates demonstrated that dual and triple resistances were 30.30% and 22.73%, respectively. The quadruple resistance rate reached 9.60%. Our results revealed that the prior eradication history of
HP
significantly increased levofloxacin and clarithromycin resistance. Metronidazole and levofloxacin resistances significantly differed among different age groups, which presented an upward trend with increasing age. Drug resistance rates varied with geographic regions, especially amoxicillin and clarithromycin resistance, which were highest in Hexi Corridor and Longnan regions.
Conclusion
The current situation of
HP
resistance to common antibiotics is severe. Tetracycline is the most sensitive antibiotic, followed by amoxicillin, the first choice for
HP
eradication. However, the eradication failure of
HP
may lead to an increase in the resistance rate. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the standardized diagnosis and treatment of
HP
to improve the primary eradication rate.