Metronidazole is rapidly failing as a first-line Helicobacter pylori treatment in Latin America. High resistance rates in Colombia, Peru, and Brazil exceed safe empiric thresholds, driving treatment failure, persistent infection, and increased gastric cancer risk.
Genetic mutations drive widespread multidrug resistance in Helicobacter pylori strains from Colombia, limiting the effectiveness of standard treatments and underscoring the need for precision-based therapy.
Rising antibiotic resistance is undermining H. pylori treatment in Latin America, with high resistance to metronidazole (53%) and clarithromycin (12%). Experts urge regional surveillance and recommend switching to regimens with lower resistance, like amoxicillin or tetracycline.
