Detection of H. pylori from Stool Samples of Patients Attending a Government Hospital in Port-Harcourt Using Antigenic Screening and Culture-Based Techniques

Background: Helicobacter pylori is well-known among other bacteria causing ulcers, stomach cancer and other forms of gastrointestinal infections in developing countries.

Aim: This research was designed to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection among patients attending a Government Hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State Nigeria.

Methodology: One hundred and five (105) stool samples of individuals comprising of 48 males and 57 females were studied. The samples were investigated for H. pylori using H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test kit. In addition, culture-based isolation was done using Columbia agar plus 10% horse blood, supplemented with antibiotics (amphotericin B, vancomycin, trimethoprim and ceftazidime).

Results: Out of 105 samples screened, 56 (53.3%) tested positive for both antigenic screening and culture-based techniques while 49 (46.7%) tested negative for both. Positive isolates were phenotypically characterized by colony morphology, Gram stain, and biochemical reactions and a total of 19 isolates were suspected to be H. pylori. The result indicated that H. pylori detection was relatively low in male (21.9%) compared to female (31.4%) using antigenic screening. However, the culture-based technique yielded low recovery in male (2.9%) compared to female (4.7%), making the detection of infection high among the female than the male. Age group prevalence increased with age, recording infections within age group ≥31 (20.0%) followed by 26-30, (12.3%) and lowest in age group 21-25 (10.5%) and below using antigenic screening. while in culture-based technique, age group 26-30, (3.8%) followed by ≥31 (3.8%) yielding low recovery, while age group 21-25 and below had 0 recovery. There was no significant difference (P˃0.05) among the different genders and age groups sampled

Conclusion: This study revealed a high level of H. pylori infection among the female than the male population sampled. To reduce the detection rates, regular screening, treatment and public health awareness campaign should be developed for the control, elimination and prevention of H. pylori infection.