Sketchy Microbiology: Helicobacter Pylori

The Helicopter Pilot — Helicobacter Pylori

Red Helicopter — Gram Negative rod (Enteric)

Curly Mustache — Helical, slender, curved rod shape found in pylorus of the stomach

What do we know about H. Pylori’s growth conditions?

1. Grows Slowly: 5-7 days

2. Requires Rich Medium (ex. Blood supplemented)

Helicopters are motile — H. Pylori is motile bc of flagella

Ammonia bottle — Urease Positive

(A Major Virulence Factor)

What is the significance of H. Pylori being Urease Positive?

1. Can be used in a Urea Breath Test

   1. Patients swallow Urea labeled with radioactive Carbon — upon exhalation you can test for the radioactive Carbon

2. Biopsy during endoscopy and then do rapid test for Urea

What are other virulence factors of H. Pylori?

1. Adhesins (colonizes mucus over gastric epithelium cells)

2. Motility

3. Urease Production

4. Cytotoxins (cagA and VacA)

Blue ring — Oxidase Positive

(Note: all curved rods are oxidase positive)

Bullet Holes — Duodenal Ulcers

Crab (Cancer) on Helicopter — If ulcers are left untreated, they can develop into gastric adenocarcinoma

Discarded Tissues — If the ulcers are left untreated, it can also develop into MALTomas (Mucus Associated Lymphoid Tissue Malignancy)

What is the treatment for H. Pylori?

Its a 3-step therapy

1. Proton Pump Inhibitor

2. Amoxicillin

3. Clarithromycin

Gas Pump w/ H+ Bomb — Proton Pump Inhibitor

Ammo — Amoxicillin

Crow w/ Keep Clear — Clarithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic)