H. pylori remains one of the most common infections in adults in Ireland and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality as the primary cause of stomach ulcers and stomach cancers. H. pylori has been designated a Class I carcinogen by the World Health Organisation. Eradication rates using the standard recommended treatment for H. pylori have fallen significantly in recent years, in line with the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains of the bacterium. Indeed, current research from the Trinity Centre at Tallaght Hospital has indicated high and increasing levels of H. pylori antibiotic resistance in the local patient cohort. Based on the disease associations of H. pylori, these findings are a cause for concern. As such, there is a strong rationale for evaluating the efficacy of alternative antibiotics for treatment of H. pylori infection, in particular in antibiotic-resistant cases. This study aims to assess the efficacy of a newer generation antibiotic, gemifloxacin, against strains of H. pylori isolated from patients at Tallaght Hospital. The efficacy of gemifloxacin against H. pylori bearing antibiotic resistance-associated DNA mutations will also be assessed. The findings from these studies will indicate the potential use for gemifloxacin to treat H. pylori infection in the clinic.
