CURRENT STATUS OF DIAGNOSTIC INFECTIONS CAUSED BY HELICOBACTER PYLORI
Authors: Shylov M. V. , Kostiuk O. V. 
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the review of the latest scientific research related to methods of diagnosis of infections caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria. Based on the review of research in the field of diagnosis of infections caused by Helicobacter pylori, modern approaches used in global medical practice were analysed. In modern times, diagnosing H. pylori is a significant problem given the variety of methods and their effectiveness, and there is no single universal approach for detecting this pathogenic bacterium. Infection caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is one of the world's most common stomach and intestinal infections. More than half of the world's population is infected with this bacterium, which often leads to severe diseases such as stomach and duodenal ulcers, as well as stomach cancer. Modern medicine develops every day, providing new methods of diagnosis and treatment. Significant scientific and technological changes are taking place in Helicobacter pylori diagnostics, which open up new perspectives and opportunities. One of the leading prospects is the search for more accurate, fast and convenient diagnostic methods that would be less invasive and more accessible to patients. The development of molecular and genetic methods, in particular polymerase chain reaction (PCR), opens up opportunities for accurate and rapid detection of H. pylori and the determination of its virulent properties. Another perspective is the development of accurate biomarkers and prognostic methods that will predict the risk of developing complications due to H. pylori infection. This will help plan and individualise treatment strategies for patients with this infection. The search for new drugs to eradicate H. pylori is also a critical prospect, especially considering the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. The article compares invasive and non-invasive methods of disease research, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Therefore, leading scientists and practitioners in the field of gastroenterology are recommended to use two or more methods, in particular, to combine invasive and non-invasive approaches, to use a serological method for population screening, to control and eradicate H. pylori mainly by non-invasive methods, using PCR as the most accurate method for diagnosing H. pylori, as well as to determine the molecular and genetic characteristics of the microorganism and assess its virulence to form an idea of the further course and prognosis of the disease. The purpose of the work is to systematically review modern methods of diagnosing infections caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to evaluate their effectiveness, advantages and limitations. An overview of the state of the art in diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infections is presented, focusing on the various detection methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and their role in the course of the disease and the treatment of this infection. A variety of diagnostic methods are reviewed, including both invasive and non-invasive approaches, including endoscopy, histology, urea breath test (UBT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods, next-generation sequencing (NGS), biosensors, and MALDI-TOF MS . The advantages and limitations of each of the methods, as well as their effectiveness in the diagnosis of H. pylori infections, are discussed. Studies have shown the importance of developing new approaches and their application in practice to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.