Co-Infection of Helicobacter Pylori with Entamoeba Histolytica and Giardia Lamblia Among Patients with Dyspeptic Symptoms Attending Bugando Medical Center, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and intestinal protozoa are common infections that pose a serious threat to
public health because they frequently cause gastrointestinal discomfort. There is a lack of information regarding the co
infection in Tanzanian tertiary hospitals, despite the high global prevalence of these infections. Due to the fact that both
H. pylori and intestinal protozoa share similar transmission routes and are influenced by socioeconomic factors, such
as poor sanitation and inadequate hygiene practices, co-infection is most likely. The aim of this study was to determine
the prevalence of co-infection between Helicobacter pylori and intestinal protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia
lamblia) and assess factors associated with H. pylori infection among dyspeptic patients.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 277 participants who met the inclusion criteria between April
and July 2023 at BMC Mwanza. Stool samples from patients with dyspeptic symptoms were screened for H. pylori
using stool antigen test and examined for intestinal protozoa using formalin-ether concentration and wet preparation
methods. Data were analyzed using STATA version 13.0. Variables with P < .2 in univariate analysis were included in
multivariate logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was considered at P < .05
Results: The prevalence of H. pylori was found to be 50.5%, while intestinal protozoa had a prevalence of 9.3%.
Female participants constituted 58.8% and the mean age was 37.9 ± 21.6 years. Co-infection with both pathogens
was observed in 5.1% of the participants. Water treatment, hand washing practices and consuming uncooked diet were
significantly associated with H. pylori infection
Conclusions: The study reveals a high prevalence of H. pylori infection and a notable co-infection rate with intestinal
protozoa (E. histolytica and G. lamblia). Factors associated with H. pylori infection included poor hand hygiene,
consumption of untreated water, and consumption of uncooked food. Due to the notable presence of co-infection
between H. pylori and intestinal protozoa. we suggest improvement of preventive measures and further researches on
this topic