Helicobacter pylori stool antigen feco-prevalance in food workers in Muş, Turkey

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a very common pathogen in the world microorganism. The prevalence of H. pylori is increasing, particularly in relation to low socio-economic status, inadequate sanitation, communal living conditions and water supply problems. People infected with H. pylori and with excessive acid secretion are at high risk of gastric ulcer, gastric cancer and duodenal ulcer. The risk of cancer is greatly reduced in patients diagnosed with H. pylori and eradicated with antimicrobial therapy. Diseases caused by this agent, which can be so common today, are a public health problem. For this reason, rapid diagnosis and treatment are very important. Many invasive and noninvasive diagnostic methods are used in the diagnosis of H pylori infection. Diagnostic methods such as culture, histological examination, Gram staining, urea breath test, urease test, serologic tests and PCR are used. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of H. pylori antigen in the stool of food industry workers in Muş province. Immunocard stool test for rapid antigen determination was used in our study. Approximately 250 volunteers aged between 18 and 90 years working in various food sectors (teahouse, restaurant, patisserie, butcher, cook, bakery, canteen, deli, market) in Muş province were included in the study. The rate of H. pylori stool antigen test (HPSA) positivity among food workers was 31.2% (78). There was no statistically significant difference between HPSA positivity and occupational groups. It is important that H. pylori is relatively less common compared to previous studies. H. pylori has a very important role in the origin of gastric diseases and gastric cancers is a serious risk factor. In the future, new diagnostic tests for H. Pylori work needs to continue.