Helicobacter pylori in Bahrain: A Comprehensive Study of Patient Characteristics, Treatment Approaches, and Cure Rates

Introduction <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) bacteria is a major cause of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and functional dyspepsia. Although the treatment of <i>H. pylori</i> has evolved over time, challenges exist due to antibiotic resistance and variations in treatment outcomes. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with <i>H. pylori</i> infection in Bahrain. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study of adults with <i>H. pylori</i> attending primary and secondary care settings was conducted. <i>H. pylori</i> was diagnosed based on the urea breath test. A computer-based simple random sample was obtained. Patients and treatment characteristics were determined from medical records. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Results A total of 709 patients were included, with an average age of 40.9±14.9 years. Nearly two-thirds of the participants were females (n=461, 65%) and diagnosed in primary care settings (n=464, 65.4%). Of the participants, 74.9% received treatment for <i>H. pylori</i>, with triple therapy (n=384, 72.3%) being the most used regimen in primary and secondary care hospitals, followed by the concomitant regimen (n=72, 13.6%). Bismuth-based quadruple therapy (P<0.001), concomitant therapy (P<0.001), and levofloxacin triple therapy (P=0.020) were used more frequently in secondary care settings compared to primary care settings. Nearly one-third of the patients underwent a test of cure (n=260, 36.7%). No significant association was found between the used regimen and the cure rate (P=0.938). Conclusion In summary, this study revealed comparable cure rates for <i>H. pylori</i> regardless of the antimicrobial regimens. Although most participants who underwent the test of cure had a negative test, the study highlighted the suboptimal management and follow-up of <i>H. pylori</i> cases. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the exact effectiveness of each regimen among patients with <i>H. pylori</i>.