---
title: "Helicobacter pylori burden and antimicrobial resistance in Cameroon: prevalence, clinical impact,"
id: "pubmed-42579701"
canonical_url: "https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42579701"
content_type: "clinical_feed_article"
specialty: "Infectious Disease"
source_name: "PubMed / NCBI"
source_url: "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/"
doi: "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486"
published_at: "2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z"
evidence_level: "Journal Article"
license: "CC-BY-NC-4.0 / Informational Use"
---
# Helicobacter pylori burden and antimicrobial resistance in Cameroon: prevalence, clinical impact,
## Provenance & Clinical Metadata
- **Canonical URL:** https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/pubmed-42579701
- **Specialty:** [Infectious Disease](https://medichelpline.com/clinical-feed/infectious-disease.md)
- **Primary Source:** PubMed / NCBI
- **Source URL:** [Original Journal Publication](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/)
- **DOI:** [10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486](https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pgph.0006486)
- **Published At:** 2026-08-11T00:00:00.000Z
- **Evidence Rating:** Journal Article
## Executive GIST (TL;DR)
- This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD420261375391) synthesized data on **Helicobacter pylori** infections in Cameroon from studies published 2000–2026 following PRISMA methods. - Six databases were searched to identify 46 eligible studies; pooled proportions were estimated using random-effects models with sensitivity analyses for confounding. - Overall pooled prevalence of H. pylori infection in Cameroon was 56.7% (95% CI 51.1–62.1%). Prevalence was higher in clinical settings (57.0%), in the Centre (62.2%) and Littoral (58.5%) regions, and among adults (59.7%) and individuals with gastrointestinal disorders (60.1%). - H. pylori burden correlated with gastric disease severity; 64.5% of cases were observed in gastric cancer patients. Infections were associated with adverse outcomes, including anemia. - High primary antimicrobial resistance was reported for **metronidazole** (87.6%; 95% CI 62.4–96.8%) and an unexpectedly high rate for **amoxicillin** (93.4%; 95% CI 85.9–97.0%), which the authors flagged for confirmation. - The lowest reported resistance rates were for **levofloxacin** (1.1%; 95% CI 0.4–3.2%) and rifampicin (0.6%; 95% CI 0.1–2.2%). - Multidrug-resistant H. pylori isolates comprised 77.6% of resistant strains. - Identified gaps include absence of data from four regions of Cameroon, limited representation of other at-risk groups (e.g., people with obesity), sparse clinical detail in some studies, and incomplete resistance profiling for commonly used antibiotics. - The study provides baseline national data to inform therapeutic management and antimicrobial resistance stewardship but calls for confirmatory studies and broader surveillance to address regional and population gaps.
## Clinical Analysis & Structured Key Points
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Affiliations Expand ### Affiliations * 1 Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology (CEREBA), Douala, Cameroon. * 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon. * 3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon. * PMID: **42579701** * DOI: [ 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486 ](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486) Item in Clipboard # Burden, clinical impact, and primary antimicrobial resistance profiles of Helicobacter pylori infections in Cameroon: A systematic review and meta-analysis Eliane V Assokom Okoubalimba et al. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2026. Show details Display options Display options Format Abstract PubMed PMID PLOS Glob Public Health Actions * [ Search in PubMed ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=%22PLOS+Glob+Public+Health%22%5Bjour%5D&sort=date&sort_order=desc) * [ Search in NLM Catalog ](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nlmcatalog?term=%22PLOS+Glob+Public+Health%22%5BTitle+Abbreviation%5D) * [ Add to Search ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/) . 2026 Aug 11;6(8):e0006486. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486. eCollection 2026. ### Authors [Eliane V Assokom Okoubalimba](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Assokom+Okoubalimba+EV&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-1 "Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology \(CEREBA\), Douala, Cameroon.")[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon."), [Judith G L F Ekwe Priso](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Ekwe+Priso+JGLF&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon."), [Idriss Ntatou Lemouchele](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Ntatou+Lemouchele+I&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-1 "Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology \(CEREBA\), Douala, Cameroon.")[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon."), [Danielle C Kedy Koum](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Kedy+Koum+DC&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 3 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-3 "Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon."), [Martin L Koanga Mogtomo](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Koanga+Mogtomo+ML&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-1 "Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology \(CEREBA\), Douala, Cameroon.")[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon."), [Loick P Kojom Foko](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Kojom+Foko+LP&cauthor_id=42579701)[ 1 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-1 "Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology \(CEREBA\), Douala, Cameroon.")[ 2 ](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42579701/#short-view-affiliation-2 "Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon.") ### Affiliations * 1 Center for Expertise and Research in Applied Biology (CEREBA), Douala, Cameroon. * 2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon. * 3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon. * PMID: **42579701** * DOI: [ 10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486 ](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0006486) Item in Clipboard Cite Display options Display options Format Abstract PubMed PMID ## Abstract Helicobacter pylori is one of the most widespread pathogens in humans and a strong predictor of gastric cancers. This systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD420261375391) aimed at determining the extent, clinical impact, and antibiotic resistance profile of H. pylori infections in Cameroon. Six databases were exploited to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2026, as per PRISMA guidelines. Pooled proportions were computed using random effects models, while sensitivity analyses were performed to identify confounding factors. A total of 46 studies were included. The pooled proportion of H. pylori infection was 56.7% (95%CI 51.1 - 62.1%), with higher estimates found in i) clinical settings (57.0%), ii) the regions of Centre (62.2%) and Littoral (58.5%), iii) adults (59.7%), and individuals with gastrointestinal disorders (60.1%). The burden of H. pylori was positively correlated with gastric disease severity, with 64.5% of infection cases seen in gastric cancer. Infections have led to adverse clinical effects (e.g., anemia). H. pylori isolates were highly resistant to metronidazole (87.6%, 95%CI 62.4 - 96.8%), while the lowest resistant rates were found for levofloxacin (1.1%, 95%CI 0.4 - 3.2%) and rifampicin (0.6%, 95%CI 0.1 - 2.2%). An unusually high resistance rate to amoxicillin (93.4%; 95% CI 85.9-97.0%) was observed, warranting confirmatory studies. Multidrug-resistant isolates accounted for 77.6%. Several urgent challenges, including the lack of studies in four regions, in other at-risk groups (e.g., obese), limited clinical data, and resistance status vis-à-vis other commonly prescribed ATBs (i.e., amoxicillin), have been identified. This comprehensive study provides baseline data to improve therapeutic management and resistance stewardship in Cameroon. Copyright: © 2026 Assokom Okoubalimba et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. [PubMed Disclaimer](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/disclaimer/) ## Conflict of interest statement The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. 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