Stomach, helicobacter pylori gastritis, H&E stain

Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative microorganism that affects 50% of the world population. H. pylori gastritis is an infection of the stomach that can lead to multiple consequences including increased risk of gastric and peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma. The stomach is an acidic environment and H. pylori attempts to counter this harsh environment by producing ammonia through the activity of urease enzyme. Moreover, H. pylori also burrow into stomach mucous and preferentially colonize the stomach antrum in order to avoid stomach acid and the acid producing parietal cells. In this patient, the medications have reduced the gastric acidity, thus H. pylori readily colonizes the acid producing oxyntic mucosa of the stomach.

The histologic features of both acute and chronic gastritis can be seen. The H. pylori organisms can also be seen on both H&E sections, and using special stains.

This is an H&E stain; see Related content for Warthin-Starry stain. This patient also had duodenal giardiasis (see slide in Related Content).