Efficacy Evaluation of Probiotics Combined with Quadruple Therapy in Treating Helicobacter pylori Infection

To evaluate the efficacy of probiotics combined with quadruple therapy in treating Helicobacter pylori infection, 240 elderly H. pylori-infected patients were recruited and divided equally into control and treatment groups. The control group received quadruple therapy (rabeprazole sodium + colloidal bismuth pectin dry suspension + amoxicillin + clarithromycin), and the treatment group was given additional bifid-triple viable (probiotics composed of Enterococcus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Bifidobacterium) capsules orally. The gastric function, inflammatory cytokine levels, gastric mucosa histopathological change scores, clinical symptom scores, clinical efficacy, and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Total curative effect rate was higher in the treatment group than the control group. The symptom scores of acid reflux and belching, nausea and vomiting, and epigastric pain were also lower in the treatment group than the control group. Also, the incidence of adverse reactions was lower in the treatment group (20.00%) than the control group (36.67%). Furthermore, the treatment group had higher decrease in gastric mucosa histopathological change scores, gastrin and motilin levels, and interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor levels than the control group. In conclusion, probiotics combined with quadruple therapy can suppress release of serum inflammatory cytokines, facilitate digestive function improvement and mucosal healing, elevate H. pylori eradication rate, and reduce therapy-related adverse reactions in H. pylori-infected patients.