"Cervia Working Group Report": Guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection

Different national attitudes exist between countries in Europe concerning e radication of Helicobacter pylori infection due to the wide differences in Helicobacter pylori prevalence, gastric cancer risk, bacterial resistance t o antibiotics, health care systems and financial resources. The Cervia Work ing Group Report has been established in order to fill the gap in the absen ce of National Guidelines in Italy concerning the diagnosis and treatment o f Helicobacter pylori infection. The recommendations made are, by and large , similar to the European Guidelines but differ slightly with regard to the "test-and-treat" approach to young dyspeptics without sinister symptoms. I n the absence of a national validation of this strategy a case-by-case asse ssment of dyspepsia has been promoted, both at primary care and specialist level. Another area of partial disagreement concerns the eradication of Hel icobacter pylori in patients undergoing long-term proton pump inhibitor tre atment which has not been generally recommended as scientific evidence in s upport of this policy is at present rather weak.