Intrafamilial spread of Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main cause of upper gastrointestinal diseases including gastric cancer. Humans are the principal reservoir of the infection. Intrafamilial spread of H. pylori is poorly documented. We compared the prevalence of infection within household contacts of H. pylori-infected patients with that of subjects with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease referred to our GI unit from January to October 2015. We studied 95 household contacts (49 M and 46 F, median age 38 years, age range 17-72 years) of 40 dyspeptic patients with H. pyloriinfection based on both rapid urease test and histology. As a control group, we studied 95 subjects (42 M and 53 F, median age 37 years, range 16-73 years) referred to our outpatient clinic for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We found H. pyloriinfection in 41/95 household contacts (43.2%), whereas only 27/95 (28.4%) control subjects resulted infected. This difference was statistically significant (p= 0.034). Based on the results of this study, subjects with H. pyloriinfection represent an important source of infection within their families. We suggest testing for H. pyloriall household contacts of H. pylori-infected patients to prevent spreading of infection, especially in areas where the prevalence of H. pylori-related upper gastrointestinal malignancies is high.