Question

Urea breath test is used for diagnosis of:

• A. H. pylori
• B. Campylobacter jejuni
• C. E. coli
• D. Lactobacillus

Hint:

Think of the urease-positive spiral bacterium of the stomach.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: The urea breath test is a rapid, non-invasive test used to detect Helicobacter pylori, the spiral gram-negative bacterium linked to gastritis, gastric ulcer and peptic ulcer disease.

Step 2: The principle relies on the potent urease enzyme of H. pylori. The patient swallows urea labelled with a carbon isotope. If H. pylori is present, its urease splits the urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, and the labelled CO2 is then detected in the exhaled breath.

Step 3: Campylobacter jejuni, E. coli and Lactobacillus are not diagnosed by this test, so the correct answer is H. pylori.