Transmission and Epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide. However, the majority of those infected do not develop clinical manifestations of disease. This review discusses the epidemiology of the organism in terms of incidence and prevalence, the presumed means of transmission from person to person, and how typing of the organism has helped the epidemiologist. The epidemiology of disorders that are associated with H. pylori is also discussed.