H. pylori
Medical abbreviation · Gastroenterology
| Stands for | Helicobacter pylori |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
H. pylori stands for Helicobacter pylori, a gastroenterology abbreviation.
Spiral, urease-producing bacterium that colonizes the stomach lining of roughly half the world's population and causes most peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, gastric MALT lymphoma and many gastric cancers. Testing uses the urea breath test, stool antigen or biopsy; eradication requires combination antibiotics plus acid suppression.
Example: Urea breath test positive for H. pylori; start bismuth quadruple therapy for 14 days and retest after treatment.
Usage notes
Italicize the name in formal writing; pronounced "H pie-LOR-ee". Originally named Campylobacter pyloridis, it was moved to the new genus Helicobacter in 1989. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a Group 1 carcinogen. Proton pump inhibitors should be stopped about two weeks before breath or stool testing to avoid false-negative results.
Related abbreviations
More gastroenterology abbreviations
- GES – Gastric emptying study
- GI – Gastrointestinal
- GIB – Gastrointestinal bleeding
- GIST – Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
- GORD – Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- GU – Gastric ulcer
- HCC – Hepatocellular carcinoma
- HE – Hepatic encephalopathy
- HH – Hiatal hernia
- HIDA – Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid scan
- HNPCC – Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
- HRS – Hepatorenal syndrome
See all 85 gastroenterology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.