Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative spiral bacterium that was first discovered by Marshall and Warren in 1982 as a variant of human pathogens. It mainly inhabits the gastric mucosa [1]. H. pylori infection has been investigated and was found to affect approximately half of the world’s population, including adults and children. The prevalence of H. pylori infection significantly differs between regions. Such differences represent the sanitation and urbanization levels, water cleanliness, as well as variable social and economic status of each region. Furthermore, the quality of the prevalence information differs, with most research papers being audits of clinical subsets, not true prevalence research. Also, the report quality differs. Thus, one figure could not explain the prevalence of infection in an entire region. Moreover, the actual prevalence in each region cannot be illustrated through a prevalence research conducted in a solitary city in a solitary region of a crowded, multiethnic region with significant variations in socioeconomic level. It also cannot distinguish between individuals at a minimal or high risk for infection. Regions and areas are categorized as having low, moderate, and high prevalence [2], [3], [4].

A published systematic review that included approximately 184 research papers from 62 variable regions published from 1970 to 2016 revealed that Africa had the highest prevalence of H. pylori infection (70.1 %) [3]. In Northern Africa, the prevalence of the infection was assessed in Moroccans with and without symptoms of gastric disorders. The authors reported an overall H. pylori seropositivity prevalence of 92.6 % among asymptomatic Moroccans and 89.6 % among patients with gastric disorders [5]. In Egypt, a study compared the prevalence of H. pylori antibodies between patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and the general Egyptian population. The seropositivity of anti–Helicobacter Immunoglobulin M (IgM) was higher in the general population (54.4 %) than in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (28.9 %). On the other hand, the seropositivity of anti–Helicobacter Immunoglobulin G (IgG) was higher in the general population (79.8 %) than in controls [6].

The exact mode of transmission of H. pylori infection has not yet been established. Infection appears in childhood and continuous until adulthood. Person-to-person transmission, particularly among and within families, has been reported, with intrafamilial transmission, particularly mother-to-child transmission, being the dominant mode [7]. Oral–oral and gastro–oral routes were also established with the ingestion of infected water and food, whereas fecal–oral route is less likely to be discussed. The major risk factors for infection development include crowded environments, poor hygienic/sanitation practices, low socioeconomic status, and malnutrition, which increase its burden [4], [8]. Invasive (endoscopy and biopsy [histological examination, culture, and rapid urease test]) and noninvasive (e.g., serological antibody test) techniques are used to investigate and diagnose H. pylori infection. The urea breath test is also very useful and exhibits higher diagnostic accuracy than other noninvasive tests for identifying H. pylori infection. Another option is stool antigen (Ag) test [4].

H. pylori is identified as the major pathogen causing gastric problems, such as upper alimentary tract diseases (e.g., chronic gastritis), which can progress to gastric cancer, atrophic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma if left untreated [9]. Eradication of infection is a must to avoid these complications. Long-standing active chronic gastritis may result in gastric mucosal atrophy with premalignant mucosal changes to gastric cancer [10]. In Egypt, previous studies that included a small number of patients with gastric cancer revealed the presence of H. pylori infection in all cases [11], [12]. Eradication of H. pylori infection before the occurrence of adverse, precancerous histological changes has been shown to prevent gastric cancer; however, eradicating the infection after the development of mucosal atrophy and/or intestinal metaplasia may reduce the risk of gastric cancer but not eliminate it [13].

Healthcare workers (HCWs), such as nurses, medical doctors, and their respective assistants, who have close contact with patients or handle contaminated secretions are at a higher risk of H. pylori infection. This risk is evident particularly among gastroenterologists and their assistants [14], [15], [16]. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection among HCWs in Aswan University Hospital, Aswan, Egypt.