Abstract
Helicobacter pylori (HP) is one of the most important human pathogens. This bacterium is associated with chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma.
HP was detected in the oral cavity in saliva and dental plaque recently. By this time the stomach was considered to be the only reservoir of this bacterium in humans.
The main aim of this work was to prove that the presence of HP in oropharynx could be independent of stomach infection. Twenty individuals with previously proven oropharyngeal presence of HP were investigated for gastric infection using Urea Breath Test (UBT).
Only 8 individuals showed gastric infection. Twelve patients (63.12%) were UBT negative.
These data show that HP can be present in the oropharyngeal area independently to the gastric infection.