Antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to six antibiotics currently used in Spain

Results: The prevalence rates of resistance were as follows: amoxicillin, 1.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0‐7.6]; clarithromycin, 14.7% (95% CI 7.3‐25.4); ciprofloxacin, 14.3% (95% CI 7.1‐24.7); levofloxacin, 14.5% (95% CI 7.2‐25.0); metronidazole, 45.1% (95% CI 33.2‐57.3); and tetracycline, 0% (95% CI 0.0‐5.1). Conclusions: Our study confirms an increasing rate of resistance to levofloxacin that equals that of clarithromycin in our healthcare area. This fact may reflect a wide and indiscriminate use of the former antibiotic and could account for a loss of clinical effectiveness of levofloxacin-containing regimens. Moreover, clarithromycin resistance rates remain stable, which could allow us to maintain its use in our area.