Helicobacter pylori infection is a public health issue. It remains one of the most common infections in adults in Ireland and is the primary cause of stomach ulcers and stomach cancers. Our recent findings have indicated that the eradication rate for standard first-line triple therapy for H. pylori has fallen to unacceptable levels. Antibiotic resistance and non-compliance represent the largest barriers to the successful management of H. pylori infection. Consensus European guidelines recommend that the choice of therapy for H. pylori eradication is guided by the local prevalence of H. pylori antibiotic resistance. Our on-going research has indicated that local H. pylori antibiotic resistance is high and on the increase, indicating that the standard triple therapy should no longer be used. This proposal aims to (i) establish an Irish H. pylori Working Group involving gastroenterologists, upper gastrointestinal (GI) surgeons, primary care physicians, and pharmacists to develop updated Irish guidelines on the treatment of H. pylori, and (ii) launch these updates to the wider medical community involved in H. pylori treatment through a workshop on H. pylori treatment and through publication, and (iii) provide educational updates on H. pylori treatment using a mobile App and web-based tools. The knowledge exchange and dissemination from this project will educate both community- and hospital-based physicians in current best practices for H. pylori eradication leading to enhanced disease prevention and control. Additionally, this proposal will establish a long-term knowledge exchange network for future research into the impact of the updated treatment guidelines on eradication rates.
