- Research Article
- 10.3390/gidisord7040069
Global Dynamics of Research on Antibiotic Resistance in Helicobacter pylori: A Bibliometric Analysis
- Oct 30, 2025
- Gastrointestinal Disorders
- Sergiu Dorin Matei + 4 more +4
This review conducts a bibliometric analysis of scientific literature on antibiotic resistance in Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori), aiming to map scientific production, identify trends and key themes, analyze collaboration models, and highlight research gaps to inform research priorities and guide public health policies, amidst the growing challenge of multidrug resistance affecting treatment success. Background/Objectives: H. Pylori infection is usually contracted during childhood and often becomes chronic and asymptomatic in 80–90% of cases. Eradication requires complex treatments involving proton pump inhibitors and multiple antibiotics, but success rates have declined due to increased antibiotic resistance caused by genetic mutations, efflux mechanisms, altered membrane permeability, and biofilm formation. Reports indicate an alarming increase in multidrug resistance, affecting the effectiveness of treatments. Methods: The bibliometric analysis was performed using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS) database, which provides comprehensive bibliographic data. Filters were applied for articles in English, reducing the set to 39,879 papers. The analysis was performed using the VOSviewer program (v1.6.20) to visualize co-author networks, citations, and keyword co-occurrence, and Microsoft Excel for processing and organization. Results: Editorial Trends: Over the last decade (2016–2025), interest in this topic has increased, with over 4000 publications annually in 2020, although a slight decline was observed in 2023. Leading Contributors: China is the most prolific author, followed by the USA and Japan. Cited Articles and Key Publications: Articles by prominent authors are frequently cited in 2022 and 2023, indicating their high relevance. Bibliographic Coupling Analysis: This revealed three main thematic clusters centered around research by specific authors. Keyword Analysis: A total of 57,462 terms were identified, of which 5292 appeared at least five times; “Helicobacter pylori” was the most frequent, followed by “infection” and “eradication.” Visualized terms highlight central areas of interest, such as “risk,” “cancer,” and “resistance”. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis underscores a rising research focus on H. pylori antibiotic resistance, with recent publications providing essential clinical guidelines and epidemiological insights into the infection’s global impact. China leads in contributions, followed by the US and Japan. Significant articles by notable authors received many citations, emphasizing their significance.
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