Poster
Helicobacter pylori
David Y. Graham & Emad M. El-Omar
December 2013
Article body
Helicobacter pylori is an important human pathogen that is transmitted between humans, especially in areas of poor household hygiene and sanitation. Infection with this bacterium causes gastric mucosal inflammation that can result in duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers and gastric cancer. This poster illustrates the environmental, genetic and bacterial risk factors for these clinical outcomes, as well as their pathological characteristics. An overview of currently available diagnostic and treatment approaches is also presented, as well as the potential for H. pylori eradication programmes.
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Helicobacter pylori is a common and important human pathogen and the primary cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. H. pylori is transmitted between humans and is facilitated by poor household hygiene and sanitary conditions. The pathogen causes progressive gastric mucosal inflammation that might eventuate in atrophic gastritis and gastric atrophy. For a population, elimination of H. pylori will essentially eliminate gastric cancer risk. For the individual, H. pylori eradication will reduce gastric cancer risk depending on the extent of damage (that is, level of risk) when eradication is accomplished. Where gastric cancer is common, H. pylori eradication should be coupled with assessment of cancer risk to identify whether surveillance for gastric cancer is indicated.
