Diagnostic methods for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection in a primary health care center

Rodríguez M.V.; Collazos R.M.; Rojas B.R.; Pérez J.R.; Crowley J.; Álvarez C.S.; Rivera A.B. · Anales de la Facultad de Medicina (2026) · DOI: 10.15381/anales.v87i2.15440

Resumen

Introduction. The detection of Helicobacter pylori infection is essential for the prevention of gastric-origin diseases, especially stomach cancer, which has a high prevalence in Peru. Methods. An observational study was conducted in a primary care facility in Chincha, Peru, through the review of medical records of patients seen at the gastroenterology service of the clinic between 2019 and 2023. Objective. To determine the diagnostic methods for Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with symptoms of dyspepsia. Results. The study included 6,762 patients attended in the gastroenterology service, 933 (14%) presented with dyspepsia symptoms and were subjected to gastroscopy, breath test, or serology for the detection of infection by Helicobacter pylori. The presence of Helicobacter pylori infection was more frequent in serological studies (53%) than in breath tests (42%) or gastric biopsies (28%). However, a deficiency was found due to the limited number of gastric biopsies performed in the evaluation of infection by gastric biopsies, since the Sydney system was not optimally followed. Conclusions. Serological studies allowed for more frequent detection of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia symptoms from the sample studied, although this conclusion may be limited by the Sydney system not having followed in the evaluation of infection by gastric biopsies. © (2026), (Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Facultad de Medicina). All rights reserved.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia; Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos