Clinical Research Directory

Bacillus Probiotics With Bismuth Quadruple Therapy for Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a very common gastrointestinal disease that colonises the human gastric mucosa and is a primary risk factor for chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. The standard first-line treatment for H. pylori eradication is bismuth-containing quadruple therapy. While effective, this aggressive, multi-antibiotic regimen frequently induces significant gastrointestinal adverse effects and severe disruption of the normal gut microbiota (dysbiosis). These side effects often lead to poor patient compliance, which in turn contributes to treatment failure and the increasing global challenge of antibiotic resistance. Emerging clinical evidence strongly supports the use of probiotics as an adjuvant therapy to alleviate antibiotic-associated side effects and significantly aid in restoring intestinal balance. Spore-forming Bacillus species, specifically Bacillus clausii, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus coagulans, are particularly advantageous due to their natural resistance to acidic gastric conditions and concurrent antibiotic administration, allowing them to remain viable and active during the intensive eradication therapy. This clinical trial is designed as a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and treatment adherence of a standard four-drug bismuth-containing regimen for the treatment of H. pylori infection when combined with single-strain and multi-strain Bacillus probiotics. The trial is conducted in the Gastroenterology Department of Tam Anh Hospital. 336 participants diagnosed with H. pylori infection and prescribed the standard 14-day bismuth-containing quadruple therapy are randomly divided and allocated to receive either a single-strain probiotic (LiveSpo Clausy), a multi-strain probiotic (LiveSpo DIA 30), or an identical placebo. Over 8 weeks of follow-up, participants will be assessed at predefined time points for antibiotic-associated adverse events, gastrointestinal symptoms, stool form, treatment adherence, and Helicobacter pylori eradication status. Stool samples will be collected before and after treatment to evaluate faecal IgA levels, the presence of Bacillus strains, and changes in gut microbiota using real-time PCR, ELISA, and 16S rRNA sequencing.