Aims: To investigate the transmission of Helicobacter pylori in the perinatal period.
Methods: H. pylori status of 180 women was preliminarily screened by serology and stool antigen test (SAT) within the fourth day after delivery and a positive value was confirmed by (13)C-urea breath test. Infants were analyzed by SAT at 1, 6, 12 and 18 months of age. H. pylori status was also investigated in the medical and paramedical staff of the Neonatology Unit.
Results: H. pylori infection was found in 34.4% of the women. At the 1(st) month of age, 5 out of 172 newborns (2.9%) were H. pylori positive by SAT. Three out of the five positive infants were born to H. pylori non-infected mothers. Formula feeding (P=0.02) and admission in intermediate-risk neonatal unit (P=0.01) were significantly related to a positive H. pylori result. Medical and paramedical staff of the neonatology unit was found H. pylori positive in 34.8% of cases. All five H. pylori positive children spontaneously cleared the infection.
Conclusions: Perinatal H. pylori SAT positive status is low in our area, and it may be found both in infants from infected or non-infected mothers. Formula feeding and admission in intermediate-risk neonatal unit appear to be related with H. pylori infection.