Helicobacter Pylori Positivity in Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Bulgarian Adults Diagnosed by 13C Urea Breath Test

Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection is changing with socio-economic and household improvements, and the increasing use of eradication regimens. The aim of the present study was to assess the current H. pylori infection rates among various groups of untreated Bulgarian adults by gender, presence or absence of associated diseases, residence in the capital city versus residence elsewhere, and healthcare-related profession versus other professions. Totally, 373 adults untreated for H. pylori infection were evaluated by 13C urea breath test (13C UBT), among them 69 asymptomatic subjects, 33 ulcer patients, 221 non-ulcer patients, and 50 subjects prior to diagnosis. Overall, 57.9% of the adults were H. pylori positive, ranging from 47.8% in asymptomatic subjects to ≥66.0% in ulcer patients and symptomatic undiagnosed subjects. Gender of the patients, residence in the capital and healthcare-associated profession were not linked to significantly different positivity rates when compared to the other subgroups. In conclusion, 13C UBT was used as the most accu-rate non-invasive test for H. pylori diagnostics since it detects not past but only present active infections and reflects the status not only of several biopsy specimens but of the whole gastric mucosa. The present results showed that H. pylori infection is still a frequent infection and an important healthcare problem in our country, affecting from one-half to two-thirds of all subgroups of Bulgarian untreated adults.