For Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication, a simplified low-dose 10-day quadruple therapy using a galenic formulation of Bismuth salicylate is highly efficacious and well-tolerated, according to an open-label pilot study published in the "Journal of Clinical Medicine". The goal of Maria Pina Dore et al. was to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of bismuth quadruple therapy (BQT) containing a galenic formulation of Bismuth salicylate.

Adult subjects who tested positive for H. pylori infection were given a quadruple treatment that included 20 mg Rabeprazole, 500 mg Tetracycline, 500 mg Metronidazole, and 200 mg Bismuth salicylate twice daily with lunch and dinner for ten days. Successful eradication was determined by a 13C-urea breath test or negative stool antigen test. After the conclusion of the treatment, 30–40 days later, adverse events and compliance were documented.

A total of 42 individuals (mean age 54.1 ± 12.0 years; 64% female) were included in this study. Overall, 35 research participants had never received therapy for H. pylori (naïve patients). Forty-one subjects completed the treatment plan, with a 95.1% success rate overall. As found, the elimination rates were 95.1% by per-protocol (PP) and 92.9% by intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. The cure rate for naïve patients was 97.1%. There was good compliance and tolerability. Side effects were nil or mild generally.

Despite using Bismuth salicylate instead of colloidal Bismuth subcitrate, the modified low-dose 10-day quadruple treatment exhibited good H. pylori elimination rates. Hence, the galenic formulation ought to be an acceptable alternative in areas where Bismuth is not readily available in the market.