Does Omeprazole Improve Antimicrobial Therapy Directed Towards Gastric Campylobacter Pylori in Patients with Antral Gastritis?: A Pilot Study

This double-blind pilot study has been undertaken in order to investigate the effect of amoxicillin and pronounced suppression of gastric acid secretion on mucosal colonisation with Campylobacter pylori (CP). Twentyfour CP-positive patients were included in the study and assigned to 14 days of treatment in either one of the following three therapy groups: Group 1: Omeprazole 40 mgo.m. + Amoxicillin 750 mgb.i.d (9pat); Group 2: Omeprazole 40 mg o.m. (8 pat); Group 3: Amoxicillin 750 mg b.i.d (7 pat).Gastroscopy with biopsy for culture and histology was performed pre-entry, at cessation of therapy and four weeks later. In the group receiving omeprazole and amoxicillin in combination 5 out of 8 patients were negative for CP four weeks after stopping treatment, while in the amoxicillin and the omeprazole groups respectively one (1/7) and none (0/8) were negative. Except for one patient who was withdrawn because of severe diarrhoea, only minor adverse effects occurred.