SEROPREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN CHILE - VEGETABLES MAY SERVEAS ONE ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION

Helicobacter pylori infection is very common in Chilean adults, but th e age-related prevalence, risk factors for infection, and mode of tran smission in Chilean children are unknown. An ELISA was used to test fo r H. pylori antibodies in 1815 Chileans <35 years of age. Seropositivi ty was >60% in lower socioeconomic groups. H. pylori seropositivity co rrelated with increased age, low socioeconomic status, and consumption of uncooked vegetables by use of a logistic regression analysis. Risk factors that reached marginal significance were consumption of uncook ed shell-fish, female sex, and residence in Santiago. Although multipl e modes of transmission for H. pylori undoubtedly exist, prior studies have suggested that contamination of irrigation water by raw sewage ( and the subsequent contamination of vegetables that are eaten uncooked ) is a key factor in the transmission of enteric pathogens in Chile; H . pylori may be transmitted by a similar route.