Affiliation:
1. Senior Nurse Endoscopist, Guy's and Saint Thomas' Hospitals NHS Trust
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori bacteria can infect the gastrointestinal tract, with the potential to cause causing gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and/or gastric cancer. There are various diagnostic tools for H. pylori, with invasive gastroscopic biopsy as the gold standard. Infection can be eradicated with a combination of omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin. This article presents a case study of a 56-year-old woman who was diagnosed with an H. pylori-associated gastric ulcer and successfully treated with triple eradication therapy. It also explores the pathophysiology of H. pylori, covering its mechanisms of mobility, pH regulation and adhesion, as well as its virulence, expression of cytotoxins and potential progression to cancer.
Subject
Advanced and Specialised Nursing,Medical–Surgical