The role of antisecretory drugs in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.

The efficacy of antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori is enhanced by the co-administration of antisecretory drugs. While proton pump inhibitors appear to have some direct effect on H. pylori and extreme hypochlorhydria has a deleterious effect on the organism, the most likely mechanism by which antisecretory drugs as a class provide this effect is by improving the efficacy of the antibiotics themselves. Although proton pump inhibitors are the most widely used antisecretory agents, H2 receptor antagonists also enhance antibiotic effects.