Is there a rationale for eradication of Helicobacter pylori ? Cost-benefit: the case for

Screening and treating the community for Helicobacter pylori would have seemed inconceivable 5 years ago. This has now become a real possibility given that H. pylori is a major risk factor for gastric carcinoma. Screening should not be introduced, however, before the costs and benefits of the programme are established. It has been estimated that 1:30-1:60 of the UK population die from an H. pylori related disease. If treating H. pylori were to …