What medications are used to treat Helicobacter pylori infection?

Helicobacter pylori infection is treated with combination therapy called triple or quadruple therapy. Standard triple therapy uses a proton pump inhibitor plus two antibiotics, typically clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole, for 14 days. Bismuth quadruple therapy uses a PPI, bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline. The PPI suppresses acid to allow mucosal healing while the antibiotics eradicate the bacteria. Antibiotic resistance, particularly to clarithromycin, is increasing, making local resistance patterns important for regimen selection.