Management of Helicobacter pylori infection in paediatric patients in Europe: results from the EuroPedHp Registry.

PURPOSE: The EuroPedHp-registry aims to monitor guideline-conform management, antibiotic resistance, and eradication success of 2-week triple therapy tailored to antibiotic susceptibility (TTT) in Helicobacter pylori-infected children. METHODS: From 2017 to 2020, 30 centres from 17 European countries reported anonymized demographic, clinical, antibiotic susceptibility, treatment, and follow-up data. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with treatment failure. RESULTS: Of 1605 patients, 873 had follow-up data (53.2% female, median age 13.0 years, 7.5% with ulcer), thereof 741 (85%) treatment naïve (group A) and 132 (15%) after failed therapy (group B). Resistance to metronidazole was present in 21% (A: 17.7%, B: 40.2%), clarithromycin in 28.8% (A: 25%, B: 51.4%), and both in 7.1% (A: 3.8%, B: 26.5%). The majority received 2-week tailored triple therapy combining proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin with clarithromycin (PAC) or metronidazole (PAM). Dosing was lower than recommended for PPI (A: 49%, B: 41%) and amoxicillin (A: 6%, B: 56%). In treatment naïve patients, eradication reached 90% (n = 503, 95% CI 87-93%) and 93% in compliant children (n = 447, 95% CI 90-95%). Tailored triple therapy cured 59% patients after failed therapy (n = 69, 95% CI 48-71%). Treatment failure was associated with PAM in single clarithromycin resistance (OR = 2.47, 95% CI 1.10-5.53), with PAC in single metronidazole resistance (OR = 3.44, 95% CI 1.47-8.08), and with low compliance (OR = 5.89, 95% CI 2.49-13.95). CONCLUSIONS: Guideline-conform 2-weeks therapy with PPI, amoxicillin, clarithromycin or metronidazole tailored to antibiotic susceptibility achieves primary eradication of ≥ 90%. Higher failure rates in single-resistant strains despite tailored treatment indicate missed resistance by sampling error.

Management of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth by pediatric gastroenterologists in Spain.

BACKGROUND: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a heterogeneous condition with nonspecific symptoms. This study aimed to report its management by pediatric gastroenterologists in Spain. METHODS: a descriptive study was performed by means of a survey sent to 184 active members of the Spanish Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (SEGHNP). RESULTS: one hundred and forty-eight responses (80.4 %) were received. Forty-four patients had no predisposing condition, 31.1 % used antibiotics followed by probiotics, 33.1 % antibiotherapy concomitant with probiotics, 24.3 % only antibiotics and 10.8 % only probiotics. The diagnosis was established via clinical parameters in 73.8 % of participants and the therapeutic response was checked only by clinical data in 90 %. CONCLUSIONS: there is high variability in the management of SIBO among pediatric population in Spain.

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pediatric Patients Living in Europe: Results of the EuroPedHP Registry 2013 to 2016.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to assess clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, antibiotic susceptibility and treatment success of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infected pediatric patients. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2016, 23 pediatric hospitals from 17 countries prospectively submitted data on consecutive H. pylori-infected (culture positive) patients to the EuroPedHP-Registry. RESULTS: Of 1333 patients recruited (55.1% girls, median age 12.6 years), 1168 (87.6%) were therapy naïve (group A) and 165 (12.4%) had failed treatment (group B). Patients resided in North/Western (29.6%), Southern (34.1%) and Eastern Europe (23.0%), or Israel/Turkey (13.4%). Main indications for endoscopy were abdominal pain or dyspepsia (81.2%, 1078/1328). Antral nodularity was reported in 77.8% (1031/1326) of patients, gastric or duodenal ulcers and erosions in 5.1% and 12.8%, respectively. Primary resistance to clarithromycin (CLA) and metronidazole (MET) occurred in 25% and 21%, respectively, and increased after failed therapy. Bacterial strains were fully susceptible in 60.5% of group A, but in only 27.4% of group B. Primary CLA resistance was higher in Southern and Eastern Europe (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 3.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.22-5.32, P < 0.001 and 2.62, 95% CI: 1.63-4.22, P < 0.001, respectively) compared with Northern/Western Europe. Children born outside Europe showed higher primary MET resistance (ORadj = 3.81, 95% CI: 2.25-6.45, P < 0.001). Treatment success in group A reached only 79.8% (568/712) with 7 to 14 days triple therapy tailored to antibiotic susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: Peptic ulcers are rare in dyspeptic H. pylori-infected children. Primary resistance to CLA and MET is markedly dependent on geographical regions of birth and residence. The ongoing survey will show whether implementation of the updated ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines will improve the eradication success.

Randomized trial to assess the efficacy and safety of xyloglucan for the treatment of acute gastroenteritis in children.

Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common diseases in children and an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. No specific treatment is available; therefore, management is exclusively symptomatic. Xyloglucan has been approved in Europe as a class IIa medical device for restoration of the physiological functions of the intestinal wall. Our objective was to assess efficacy and safety of xyloglucan for the treatment of acute gastroenteritis in children. We performed a triple-blind, randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial in four primary care centers and one continued care hospital center. The study population comprised children with acute gastroenteritis aged >3 months and <5 years. Our primary endpoint was time (in hours) of resolution of diarrhea, defined as the time to resolution of stool consistency (Bristol Stool Form Scale ≤5 or Amsterdam Stool Form Scale B or C) or time until deposition frequency resumes to normality, whichever occurred first. We also recorded intravenous rehydration, hospitalization, stools per day, Vesikari scale, vomiting, relapse, weight loss, drugs prescribed, and adverse events. Eighty children were included in the intention-to-treat population (43 xyloglucan and 37 placebo) and 74 (93%) in the per-protocol population. Time to resolution of diarrhea was similar in both groups with (median, 95% CI) 24, 17-24 h in the xyloglucan group versus 24, 19-24 h in the placebo group, p = .680. Significant differences were observed for patients with moderate-to-severe diarrhea (Vesikari scale ≥9): xyloglucan group (20 [15-24] h) versus placebo group (85 [51-120] h) (p = .04). No other significant differences were found. Xyloglucan can be considered safe and other studies should be performed to confirm the usefulness in patients with moderate-to-severe diarrhea.

[Management of Helicobacter pylori infection in the pediatric age]. / Manejo de la infección por Helicobacter pylori en la edad pediátrica.

The management of Helicobacter pylori infection in children is a consistent problem in clinical practice. Over the years, many questions have been raised regarding symptoms associated with the infection, the diagnostic methods and type of treatment. What is most controversial is determining the criteria that enable us to initiate and carry out the study in children. In the last 10 years, pediatricians have followed the joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines published in 2011 and updated in 2017 in the management of H.pylori in children. This document aims to unify the study indication criteria as well as the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for H.pylori infection in children and adolescents, so they can be used in both Primary and Hospital care.

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection in the pediatric age.

The management of Helicobacter pylori infection in children is a consistent problem in clinical practice. Over the years, many questions have been raised regarding symptoms associated with the infection, the diagnostic methods and type of treatment. What is most controversial is determining the criteria that enable us to initiate and carry out the study in children. In the last 10 years, pediatricians have followed the joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines published in 2011 and updated in 2017 in the management of H. pylori in children. This document aims to unify the study indication criteria as well as the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for H. pylori infection in children and adolescents, so they can be used in both Primary and Hospital care.