The treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection: the changing picture of a still unresolved problem

More than 20 years from the discovery of Helicobacter pylori there is still a need to eradicate the bacterium. The efficacy of the current preferred first-line therapy--the triple regimen--has progressively decreased over the last 5 - 6 years, paralleling the progressive increase in the prevalence of resistant bacterial strains. Similarly, the quadruple therapy has progressively lost its importance as rescue therapy in some countries where bismuth is no longer available. A large number of studies investigating new combinations of drugs, new antibiotics and new regimens have been published in recent years. The most promising regimens--sequential therapy and triple therapy with lovofloxacin--have progressively gained importance but still need further confirmation of their efficacy before they can replace the old protocols in the everyday treatment of H. pylori infection.