Long-term follow-up of voluntary ingestion of Helicobacter pylori

After ingestion of Helicobacter pylori, a volunteer developed chronic infection, persistent gastritis, and seroconversion to H. pylori antigens. Single-agent therapies suppressed, but did not eradicate, infection, inflammation, and serologic response. Immunoglobulin M seroconversion followed both primary and recurrent infection. With triple-agent therapy, begun on day 966, H. pylori infection was resolved, gastritis was eliminated, and serologic values were normalized. Follow-up for 2 further years has not shown the recurrence of infection. This case illustrates the natural history, pathology, serology, and response to therapy of H. pylori infection.