Bismuth Quadruple Therapy for 10 Days Versus 14 Days as a First-line Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Eradication in Egyptian Patients in Middle Delta

Abstract

Background: Nearly half of the world population is infected by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with rising rates of resistance to traditional regimens of treatment. Bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy (BQT) has shown favorable outcomes. So, this prospective study was conducted to compare the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of BQT given for 10 days versus 14 days in H.pylori infected treatment naïve Egyptian patients in Middle Delta.  Methods: This prospective study was carried out on 81 H. pylori positive patients (18 years and above) with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms attending Tanta University Hospital center in the period between June 2023 and January 2024. 37 patients were lost for follow-up and excluded from the study and the remaining 44 patients completed treatment and were divided into two groups: Group (I): 23 patients (10-Day BQT) Group (II): 21 patients (14-Day BQT). Results: Successful eradication was achieved in 20 (87%) of the 10 days BQT group (Group I) and 17 (81%) of the 14 days BQT group (Group II). However, this difference in eradication rate was statistically non-significant when both groups are compared to each other’s (P value = 0.896). Moreover, the overall eradication rate of BQT in all the study group (n=44) was 84.1%. Conclusions: 10-day BQT is an appropriate first-line H.pylori eradication regimen with similar eradication rate, lower frequency of adverse events and shorter duration compared to the 14-day BQT.