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Usually, Helicobacter pylori infection can be diagnosed by noninvasive and
invasive methods such as the urea breath test, stool test, urease testing on
endoscopic biopsies, and serological assays. The sensitivity of urease
testing on antral biopsy specimens is 79-100%, and the specificity ranges
from 92% to 100%. However, an alternative diagnostic approach is in
vivo identification of Helicobacter pylori using acriflavine-guided
endomicroscopy.
Helicobacter pylori infection was first detected in vivo in 2005 (Kiesslich
et al., Gastroenterology) in a 70-year-old
man. Single as well as accumulated white dots were observed within the
gastric mucosa after topical application of acriflavine onto the gastric
surface. The distinct shape and size of the bacteria, including the flagella,
were identifiable. Helicobacter pylori infectionwas confirmed by histology
and culture. Ex vivo examination of the cultures also showed active uptake
of acriflavine by Helicobacter pylori. |
