FRESH LOOK ON HELICOBACTER PYLORI

Abstract

Since the pioneering work of Marshall and Warren in the early 1980, there has been extensive research around the world in to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter pylori is a curved or S shaped gram negative non capsulated, non spore forming bacillus with a length of about 3um and a width of0.5um. Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common chronic infections known and has a worldwide distribution in normal population with 7 out of 10 people infected globally.• It is evident that transmission ofHelicobacter pylori infection is mainly person to person. Several modes of transmission have been proposed including oro-oral, fecal-oral, gastro-oral and gastro-gastric routes. Factors that increase an individual's opportunity to contact a contaminated enviroment or that increase the ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize gastric mucosa will increase the acquisition rate of Helicobacter pylori infection.