Can a microwave oven kill Helicobacter pylori?

Microwaves can kill Helicobacter pylori to some extent.

Heating with a microwave oven at high temperature for 1-3 minutes can eliminate Helicobacter pylori on the surface of objects, achieving a surface sterilization rate of over 99%. The temperature required to kill Helicobacter pylori is generally between 80-100°C, and the temperature of a microwave set at high power usually reaches 100°C or higher, thus meeting the conditions necessary to kill surface bacteria.

However, microwave heating is somewhat uneven, and some internal parts of food might not be sufficiently heated, meaning bacteria could survive in these cold spots. Helicobacter pylori mainly resides in the acidic environment of the stomach, rather than in food; therefore, even if microwaves can kill such bacteria present in food, they have no direct therapeutic effect on existing infections in the human body.

Treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection should follow medical advice and generally involves combination antibiotic therapy. Additionally, attention should be paid to personal hygiene practices to avoid cross-contamination.