Helicobacter pylori Antibiotic Resistance in the United States Between 2011 and 2021: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance among Helicobacter pylori strains has been rising globally, leading to declining eradication rates. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the resistance patterns of H. pylori strains in the United States between 2011 and 2021. METHODS: Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for manuscripts and conference abstracts published between 2011 and 2021 reporting H. pylori antibiotic resistance. A mixed-effects model estimated pooled rates of resistance to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, tetracycline, rifabutin, levofloxacin, or a combination of these, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: A total of 19 studies including 2,660 samples, met inclusion criteria. The pooled rate of resistance to metronidazole was 42.1% (95% CI 27.3%-58.6%), levofloxacin 37.6% (95% CI 26.3%-50.4%), clarithromycin 31.5% (95% CI 23.6%-40.6%), amoxicillin 2.6% (95% CI 1.4%-5.0%), tetracycline 0.87% (95% CI 0.2%-3.8%), rifabutin 0.17% (95% CI 0.00%-10.9%), and dual clarithromycin and metronidazole 11.7% (95% CI 0.1%-94.0%). Considerable data heterogeneity was evident for pooled resistance prevalence rates (I-2 > 50%), with the exception of rifabutin resistance. DISCUSSION: Metronidazole, levofloxacin, and clarithromycin resistance rates each exceed 30%; thus, choosing an empiric antibiotic regimen without knowledge of the likely pattern of antibiotic resistance is not appropriate. Resistance to tetracycline, rifabutin, and amoxicillin remains low. Given the scarcity of available data with considerable heterogeneity among studies, continued surveillance, ideally with a more systematic approach to data collection, is an increasingly important goal in H. pylori management.