The prevalence of helicobacter pylori and gastritis in Oman

Background and objectives: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are considered to be the most common human infectious agents leading to gastritis, ulcer and probably stomach cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and histologic gastritis in Oman using endoscopy biopsy of the stomach. Methods: A total of 366 stomach biopsies (171 males and 195 females) were histologically analyzed at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, between 2007 and 2010, using haematoxylin and eosin, Giemsa and Alcian blue / periodic acid-Schiff stains. Results: Out of 366 cases, 110 (30.1%) were positive for H. pylori infection. Out of 110, 76 cases were associated with active chronic gastritis, 32 cases with chronic gastritis and one case each with gastric carcinoma and normal histological features. The maximum number of H. pylori organisms was found among young (26 - 44 years) and middle age (45 - 59 years) groups, 34.5% and 30.9%, respectively. H. pylori was present in 36.9% females and in 22.2% of males. 40.9% of H. pylori was found in the gastric antrum site, and the gastric cardia was free of H. pylori. Conclusion: H. pylori associated active chronic gastritis is the most common form of stomach diseases encountered in this study. In addition, female, young and middle age group and gastric antrum had the highest frequency of H. pylori organisms.