Helicobacter Pylori in Children: Molecular Characterization, Antibiotics Resistance , and MLST of Isolated Strains in an Algerian Hospital

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is generally acquired in childhood. Algeria is a country with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. The aim of this work was to take stock of H. pylori infection in Algerian children. Materials and Methods: About 31antral biopsies were cultured, and then antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed. The statuses of cagPAI and vacA s, m, I, and d regions were determined as well as geographical typing was done by MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST) method. Results: Culture was H. pylori positive in 12 children. Only one resistance to clarithromycin and one to metronidazole were detected. Four out of six strains possessed cagPAI, and five out of six strains were identified as vacA s2m2i2d2. The five strains tested by MLST were of the hpEurope type. Conclusion: This study revealed high prevalence of H. pylori infection and low resistance to antibiotics and reported for the first time in Algeria a genetic typing of H. pylori strains isolated from Pediatrics.