How is Helicobacter pylori transmitted?
Aug 27, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Jingxiang
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Helicobacter pylori is primarily transmitted through five routes: oral-oral, fecal-oral, food contamination, mother-to-child, and iatrogenic transmission. These modes of transmission are often associated with daily diet, lifestyle contact, and medical procedures. Additionally, it is important to consistently use serving chopsticks and spoons, thoroughly wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, ensure food is fully cooked, and drink boiled water.
Under normal circumstances, Helicobacter pylori mainly spreads through five routes: oral-oral transmission, fecal-oral transmission, food contamination, mother-to-child transmission, and iatrogenic transmission. These routes are commonly associated with daily diet, lifestyle contact, and medical procedures. A detailed explanation is as follows:
1. Oral-oral transmission
Bacteria may exist in the oral cavity of infected individuals. Sharing eating utensils, cups, or consuming food contaminated by an infected person's saliva can allow bacteria to enter a healthy person's body through the mouth and cause infection. Some parents chew food before feeding it to their children. If the parent is infected, bacteria present in their saliva can be transmitted to the child through this method.
2. Fecal-oral transmission
Infected individuals may carry the bacteria in their feces. If feces contaminate water sources and healthy individuals consume this water, the bacteria can enter the digestive tract through the mouth and colonize the stomach. If infected individuals do not thoroughly wash their hands after defecation, bacteria from feces can contaminate utensils and food ingredients when handled. Healthy individuals may become infected indirectly by touching these contaminated objects and then eating.
3. Food contamination
Undercooked or contaminated food might carry bacteria. Consuming vegetables and fruits contaminated by an infected person's feces or saliva without thorough washing, or consuming contaminated dairy products that have not undergone high-temperature sterilization, can result in bacteria entering the mouth and subsequently invading the gastric mucosa to cause infection.
4. Mother-to-child transmission
If a mother is infected, failure to wash hands before feeding the infant or using utensils contaminated by her own saliva can lead to bacterial transmission through food into the infant's body. Additionally, kissing an infant's cheeks followed by the infant touching that area and then putting their hands into their mouth may also lead to infection.
5. Iatrogenic transmission
During medical procedures, if endoscopes, dental instruments, or other equipment are not thoroughly disinfected, residual saliva or gastric mucosal tissue from infected individuals may remain on the instruments. When these instruments are used on healthy individuals, bacteria can enter their bodies through contact. Additionally, if healthcare workers do not properly disinfect their hands after contact with infected individuals and then proceed to touch other patients, indirect transmission may occur.
Furthermore, it is important to consistently use serving chopsticks and spoons, thoroughly wash hands before meals and after using the toilet, ensure food is fully cooked, and drink boiled water. If a family member becomes infected, timely treatment should be sought at a qualified medical institution to reduce the risk of infection.
