Helicobacter pylori - Impact on Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer: A Brief Review

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a spiral-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes the gastric epithelium and represents one of the main etiological factors for chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.This globally prevalent infection transmitted chiefly via the oral-oral or fecal-oral route is linked to unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and poor hygiene and may be found as a commensal organism in up to 50 % of individuals.A hallmark of H. pylori is its ability to survive in an acidic environment through production of urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, thereby reducing local acidity.Persistent bacterial presence triggers a chronic inflammatory response, destroys the stomach's protective barrier and may lead to ulcer formation.Beyond gastrointestinal manifestations, H. pylori infection increases the risk of gastric neoplasms such as adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.Standard treatment aims at bacterial eradication with a proton-pump inhibitor combined with antibiotics; however, rising antimicrobial resistance is undermining these regimens and driving the search for alternative protocols, including new antibiotic combinations and probiotic supplementation.Early detection and treatment are pivotal to minimize complications such as bleeding or gastric perforation and to reduce gastric cancer risk.Diagnosis relies on invasive tests (endoscopy with biopsy) or non-invasive tests (urea breath test, stool antigen test and serology), each with specific sensitivity and specificity profiles.Given its clinical and epidemiological relevance, H. pylori infection remains a major focus in gastroenterology, necessitating ongoing research into pathophysiology, therapeutic optimization and public-health policies for prevention and control.