Helicobacter pylori Positivity by Serological and Stool Antigen Testing Among Patients Attending an Internal Medicine Clinic in Tripoli, Libya

Helicobacter pylori infection remains an important global health problem, but recent epidemiological data from Libya are limited. This cross-sectional study assessed H. pylori positivity among patients attending the Internal Medicine Clinic at Tripoli Medical Center, Libya, between 16 December 2025 and 15 April 2026. We tested 79 patients by serology (VIDAS® H. pylori IgG, bioMérieux) and 51 patients in a separate group by stool antigen testing (H. pylori Stool Ag cassette, SNIBE). We described results by age group and gender, and assessed associations with age group using chi-square and exact tests. Overall, 51/79 participants (64.6%; 95% CI 53.6–74.2) were seropositive, and 15/51 (29.4%; 95% CI 18.7–43.0) were positive by stool antigen testing. Seropositivity ranged from 75.0% in participants aged 0–19 years to 40.0% in those aged ≥60 years, and stool antigen positivity from 20.0% (0–19 years) to 50.0% (≥60 years). Age group was not significantly associated with serological status (χ² = 2.51, df = 3, Pearson p = 0.474; exact p = 0.489) or stool antigen status (χ² = 3.12, df = 3, Pearson p = 0.373; exact p = 0.358). Females made up 53.2% of the serology group and 72.5% of the stool antigen group. The two rates come from different patient groups and measure different things: IgG antibodies indicate exposure (current or past), whereas stool antigen indicates active infection, so the rates should not be compared directly. The findings show a high H. pylori positivity among clinic-attending patients in Tripoli and support larger multicenter studies using standardized tests for active infection in Libya.