Antimicrobial Efficacy of Five Probiotic Strains Against Helicobacter Pylori

Treatment ofHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori) infection is a challenge for clinicians. The largeincrease in drug-resistant strains makes the formulation of new therapeutic strategies fundamental.The frequent onset of side effects during antibiotic treatment (mainly due to intestinal dysbiosis)should not be underestimated as it may cause the interruption of treatment, failure ofH. pylorieradication and clonal selection of resistant bacteria. Probiotic integration during antibiotic treatmentcan exert a dual function: a direct antagonistic effect onH. pyloriand a balancing effect on dysbiosis.Therefore, it fulfills the definition of a new therapeutic strategy to successfully treatH. pyloriinfection.Data reported in literature give promising but discrepant results. Aim: To assessin vitrobacteriostaticand bactericidal activity of probiotic strains againstH. pylori. Materials and methods:L. casei, L.paracasei, L. acidophilus, B. lactisandS. thermophilusstrains were used. Agar well diffusion and time-killcurves were carried out to detect bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, respectively. Results: Allprobiotic strains showed both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity vs.H. pylori. Conclusions: Suchfindings prompted us to plan a protocol of treatment in which probiotics are given to infected patientsin association with antibiotic therapy.