Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Yemeni Patients

Background: Helicobacter pylori (Hp), a common bacterial infection linked to disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, are found in half of the world population. In developing countries, Hp infection is a public-health issue (1). It is one of the world’s most common human bacterial infections and associated with chronic gastritis, peptic ulceration and gastric cancer (2). Data on its prevalence in the Middle East is limited (3). There are limited data about H. pylori infection in Yemen.Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection among patients undergoing upper GIT endoscopy with different symptoms at different endoscopic units at Different Hospitals and governorates in Yemen.Subjects and Methods: All patients referred to the endoscopy units at Al-Wehdah Teaching Hospital-Thamar University, Police Model Hospital, Police General Hospital, endoscopic charity camps at Socatra Island, Mukalla, Dowaan and Seiyun Hospitals in Yemen, were enrolled in a prospective study. For each patient clinical and socioeconomic and environmental data were collected. Endoscopy was performed and two gastric biopsies were obtained from antrum and corpus. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed at the time of endoscopy by using the rapid urease test (RUT).Results: A total of 2300 patients ,1300 females (56.522%) with a mean age of 37.395 years (range 16-90 years) and 1000 males (43.478%) with a mean age of 39.168 Years (range 18-75 years) were included in this study. Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom reported. Gastritis 99% and esophagitis 85% were the most frequent endoscopic findings. Helicobacter pylori were found in 2270 patients (98.7%). Thirty four patients (1.5%) patients were present with gastric cancer, 80 patients with gastric ulcer (3.48%), 1500 (65%) patients with duodenal erosions,150 (6.5%) patients with duodenal ulcer, all patients with duodenal and gastric ulcers have H.pylori positive test, by using rapid urease test (RUT).Conclusions: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in hospital patients, who undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is very high (98.7%). This study is confirming that Helicobacter pylori are significantly associated with oesophagitis, gastritis and peptic ulcer in Yemen