Furazolidone combination therapies for Helicobacter pylori infection in the United States

Abstract

Furazolidone combination therapy appears to be effective. Additional studies with different antimicrobial combinations and duration of therapy are warranted.

Furazolidone- and Nitrofurantoin-Resistant Helicobacter pylori : Prevalence and Role of Genes Involved in Metronidazole Resistance

“…The ideal antibiotic for H. pylori therapy would have high efficacy without the development of antibiotic resistance. Several reports published recently indicate that furazolidone or nitrofurantoin is efficacious in H. pylori therapy, although details of the best therapy have not yet been defined (2,9,21). The results reported here suggest that furazolidone and nitrofurantoin may be good alternatives, especially in areas where metronidazole resistance is common.…”

“…Monotherapy with metronidazole results in more than 50% of H. pylori isolates acquiring resistance (13), and current metronidazole-containing triple therapies are being undermined by development of resistance (4). Because of the high rate of metronidazole resistance in H. pylori, furazolidone and nitrofurantoin have been recommended as alternative agents (2,9,21).…”

Increasing Multidrug Resistance in Helicobacter pylori Strains Isolated from Children and Adults in Mexico

“…These results stress the need for alternative therapies. Clinicians in our community at present are recommending the use of furazolidone and tetracycline as alternatives; the use of these antibiotics in combination with ranitidine bismuth citrate has been shown to be effective and inexpensive in other communities (6).…”

Helicobacter Pylori Treatment with Alternative Drugs: Good and Cheap for Developing Countries Furazolidone-Based Treatment- Omeprazole, Furazolidone and Tetracycline Open-Label Trial in A Developing Country: Why Not?

“…On the other hand Graham et al [14] questioned the warning about the carcinogenic potential of furazolidone [22]. They are cautioned that furazolidone may be a carcinogen.…”

“…To overcome these limitations, furazolidone-based treatments have been suggested in developing countries by the World Gastroenterology Organization and Latin-America guidelines [2,12,13]. On the other hand, the low rate of primary H. pylori resistance toward furazolidone in developed countries may render appealing the use of this drug also in these geographic areas [14,15]. Furazolidone is a synthetic nitro furan with a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities widely used in the treatment of bacterial and protozoal infections in both humans and animals.…”