Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of H elicobacter pylori infection in K orea, 2013 revised edition

The K orean C ollege of H elicobacter and U pper G astrointestinal R esearch first developed guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of H elicobacter pylori ( H . pylori ) infection in 1998, and revised guidelines were proposed in 2009 by the same group. Although the revised guidelines were based on a comprehensive review of published articles and the consensus of expert opinions, the revised guidelines were not developed using an evidence‐based process. The new guidelines presented in this study include specific changes regarding indication and treatment of H . pylori infection in K orea, and were developed through the adaptation process using an evidence‐based approach. After systematic review of the literature, six guidelines were selected using the A ppraisal of G uidelines for R esearch and E valuation ( AGREE ) II process. A total of 21 statements were proposed with the grading system and revised using the modified D elphi method. After the guideline revisions, 11 statements about indication of test and treatment, four statements about diagnosis, and four statements about treatment of H . pylori infection were developed. The revised guidelines were reviewed by external experts before receiving official endorsement from the K orean C ollege of H elicobacter and U pper G astrointestinal R esearch, and disseminated to physicians and other medical professionals for use in clinical practice in K orea. The guidelines will continue to be updated and revised periodically.