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- Aims-To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter
- pylori colonisation in the mouths of patients with
- H pylori gastritis.
-
- Methods-A nested polymerase chain reaction test for
- the 16S ribosomal RNA gene of H pylori was used on
- saliva, dental plaque, gastric juice and gastric
- biopsy specimens from patients attending a
- dyspepsia clinic.
-
- Results-Thirteen patients had histologically
- confirmed Helicobacter associated gastritis. Twelve
- of these had positive gastric aspirates by PCR.
- Five had at least one positive oral specimen. Eight
- patients with normal gastric biopsy specimens had
- no PCR positive oral specimens or gastric
- aspirates. All, however, had PCR positive gastric
- biopsy specimens. In an attempt to determine the
- origin of these positive results in normal patients,
- it was shown that biopsy forceps could contaminate
- specimens with DNA from previous patients.
-
- Conclusion-The demonstration of the organism in the
- mouths of a substantial proportion of dyspeptic
- patients has major implications for the spread of H
- pylori and identifies a potential source for
- reinfection following eradication of the organism
- from the stomach.
-