Eradication of H pylori infection in a rural population: one-day quadruple therapy versus 7-day triple therapy.

Aim: To compare the one-day quadruple therapy with a standard 7-d triple therapy for H pylori eradication in a rural population of China.

Methods: A total of 396 patients with (13)C-urea breath test positive for H pylori were assigned into two groups: 239 patients received one-day quadruple therapy (amoxicillin 2000 mg qid; metronidazole 500 mg qid; bismuth citrate 900 mg qid and lansoprazole 60 mg once daily) and 157 patients received 7-d standard triple therapy (amoxicillin 1000 mg bid; clarithromycin 500 mg bid and lansoprazole 30 mg bid). All the patients underwent a (13)C-UBT to assess the eradication of H pylori infection six weeks after treatment.

Results: Two hundred and twenty-nine patients completed the one-day therapy (95.8%) and 148 patients completed the 7-d therapy (94.2%). The one-day therapy eradicated H pylori infection in 64 patients (27.95%). In contrast, 103 patients (69.59%) were H pylori negative after the 7-d therapy (P < 0.01).

Conclusion: This pilot study suggests there is no beneficial effect of the one-day therapy in treatment of H pylori infection compared with the 7-d standard therapy.