The Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in Estonian Bariatric Surgery Patients.

() is one of the most important human pathogens that can cause duodenal and gastric ulcers, gastritis and stomach cancer. infection is considered to be a cause of limiting access to bariatric surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of in patients with obesity going into bariatric surgery and to reveal the relationship between and clinical data. The study group was formed of 68 preoperative bariatric surgery patients (body mass index (BMI) 44.7 ± 4.8). Gastric biopsies (antrum and corpus) were used for histological and molecular ( and genes) examinations. The PCR method revealed infection in 64.7% of obese patients that is higher in comparison with histological analysis (55.9%). The prevalence of and genes in antrum mucosa was 45.6% and 47.0% while in the corpus it was 41.2% and 38.3%, respectively. The coincidence of both and virulence genes in the antrum and corpus mucosa was 33.8% and 22.1%, respectively. Either of the genes was found in 58.8% of antrum and 57.3% of corpus mucosa. Presence of and genes was in association with active and atrophic chronic gastritis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that two thirds of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery are infected with and have a high prevalence of and virulence genes that points out the necessity for diagnostics and treatment of this infection before surgery.