REVIEW  HELICOBACTER PYLORI 

Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica 2018 September;64(3):251-4

DOI: 10.23736/S1121-421X.18.02480-7

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Transmission of Helicobacter pylori

Irena Mladenova ¹ ✉, Marilena Durazzo ²

¹ Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria; ² Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy

The exact modes and routes of transmission of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection remain unproven. Studies showed that H. pylori bacteria can spread directly from one person to the other, or indirectly from an infected person to the environment. Presently, interpersonal pathways are more probable than environmental exposure routes. Person to person transmission can be mainly fecal-oral or oral-oral. In the last 30 years many authors have investigated the main potential sources of H. pylori infections, vectors and risk factors for both fecal-oral and oral-oral routes of transmission, eating of contaminated food, drinking of contaminated water, and exposure to animals. They have tried to isolate H. pylori from feces, saliva, dental plaque. These aspects are the basis for the effective prevention of both H. pylori acquisition and gastroduodenal pathology associated with it. These issues will be discussed in this narrative review.

KEY WORDS: Helicobacter pylori - Peptic ulcer - Stomach neoplasms - Lymphoma - Therapy - Vaccines