In: Biology
Which statement is false concerning H. pylori . Mark all that apply
a. Gastritis arises due to mucosal cell destruction and a proinflammatory response
b. It is a carcinogenic bacterium that can lead to gastric cancer with prolonged exposure
c. Bleeding peptic ulcers may occur in approximately 15% of the population
d. H. pylori can not be treated with antibiotic drugs
H. pylori exclusively colonized the small intestines in people
Answer 1: The false statements are: ‘d’ H.pylori can not be treated with antimicrobial drugs.
And ‘e’ H.pylori exclusively colonized the small intestines in people.
Explanation: The corrected statement is H.pylori can be treated with antimicrobial drugs: H.pylori is sensitive to many beta lactum antibiotics, macrolides, tetracyclins, nitroimidazoles in vitro but the choice of antibiotic is critical as it is dependent on stability of the antibiotic in the acidic environment and its action against a slow growing organism. To control the infection at least two antibiotics are given with acid lowering substance, it is a triple therapy. Because mono therapy can lead to antibiotic resistance.
H.pylori lives only on gastric (stomach) mucosa, colonization ceases abruptly where the gastric mucosa ends. If gastric type mucous secreting cells are found in the duodenum then that area can become colonized with the bacterium showing its preference for the gastric mucosal cells, hence the statement saying that it colonizes the intestinal mucosa is false.
The true statements are
a) Gastritis arises due to mucosal cell destruction and a pro inflammatory response: Helicobacter pylori get access to the body through food, water or it can pass on through the saliva of infected individual and it mainly affects the mucosal lining of the stomach. The mucosal lining of the stomach is to protect the stomach cells from high acidity in the stomach but if it gets damaged the acid gets through the lining and causes ulcers. Colonization of the bacteria results in mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and numerous PMN (polymorphonuclear) leucocytes at the site of colonization leading to gastritis.
b) It is a carcinogenic bacterium that can lead to gastric cancer with prolonged exposure: chronic active gastritis can lead to further complications such as gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastric malignancies (cancer)
c) Bleeding peptic ulcers can occur in approximately 15% of the population: peptic ulcer can lead to further complications such as perforation, blockage of stomach, bleeding. In 15% of the cases bleeding is seen.