LOW CURE RATE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION WITH OMEPRAZOLE AND FURAZOLIDONE DUAL THERAPY FOR ONE WEEK

Background: Furazolidone is an inexpensive antibiotic that has conside rable anti-Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro. Methods: Twenty-thre e patients with culture-proven H. pylori infection were treated for on e week with a dual therapy containing omeprazole and furazolidone.Resu lts: Eradication succeeded in 10 of the first 20 evaluable patients (5 0%; 95% CI: 27.2-72.8%). This percentage was regarded as too low, and the study was terminated. Side-effects were mild. Conclusion: With the possible increase in resistance to metronidazole and clarithromycin w orld-wide, furazolidone may be a useful alternative in the treatment o f H. pylori infection. Dual therapy for one week, however, is not suff icient.