Aim: In this study, the main goal was to find a statistically significant difference between eradication treatment plans that used azithromycin and clarithromycin in triple and quadruple eradication plans.
Methods: This retrospective, single-center, observational, non-funded Helicobacter pylori management study examined patients who visited our institutional gastroenterology clinic at the King Hussein Medical Centre in the Royal Medical Services, Amman, Jordan, from January 2023 to May 2024. The most common treatment (TRT) courses are 7 or 10-14 days, so this study divided the therapy length into two categories. We also divided proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) into low-standard dose intensity (omeprazole 20-40 mg/day) and high-dose intensity (80 mg/day). Patients received six TRT regimens. The study aimed to eradicate H. pylori with a negative stool antigen test after six weeks post-TRT and two weeks without PPIs. Clarithromycin and azithromycin were reference macrolides for TRT. Azithromycin-based TRT covered IV-VI, while clarithromycin-based TRT covered I-III. The chi-square test was used to quantify TRT I-II proportional differences in patient variables. Association coefficients, odd ratios for TRT success, prediction variability range, and H. pylori eradication sensitivity indices based on macrolides-based TRT I-II, TRT length categories, PPI intensity doses, and patients' adherence rating scale were extracted using multiple logistic regression.
Results: Our gastroenterology unit tested 1076 patients. About 49.3% (530 patients) were female and 50.7% (546 patients) were male. The majority of patients, 78.2% (841), were under 60, while 21.8% (235) were 60 or older. Patients were given six eradication regimens (Regimens I-VI) with macrolides (clarithromycin or azithromycin). Most TRT durations were 7-14 days. We used multiple logistic regression. We considered patient adherence rates as confounding factors. Using azithromycin instead of clarithromycin has a statistically significant impact (1.780 (95% CI; 1.378-2.299).
Conclusion: Azithromycin can be a reasonable substitute for clarithromycin in triple or quadruple therapy eradication regimens for H. pylori infection.