Incidence of Campylobacter pylori in patients with upper gastro-intestinal symptoms

Antral mucosal biopsy specimens were examined microbiologically and histologically for the presence of Campylobacter pylori in 224 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The gastric mucosa of 183 patients (82%) were found to harbour C. pylori. C. pylori was strongly associated with the presence of histological gastritis (93%) and was detected in only 10% of 30 patients in whom histological examination of gastric biopsy specimens was negative. Endoscopically diagnosed duodenal lesions were more strongly associated with the presence of C. pylori than gastric lesions (P<0,001). The histological demonstration of spiral bacteria in biopsy specimens was a more sensitive method for the diagnosis of C. pylori than culture (80% v. 65%).