Microscopic recognition remains a major component of diagnosing specific infectious
agents or, at the minimum, an important first step in initiating a workup to confirm
a specific infectious etiology. However, organisms are known to adapt in response
to treatment, not only by developing resistance mechanisms but also undergoing major
morphologic changes in some cases. Such morphologic adaptation can make them drastically
different and hence difficult to recognize or characterize by an unwary examiner.
The purpose of this article is to highlight a rare and unusual form of Helicobacter
pylori referred to as coccoid H. pylori.
Key-words:
Antibiotic altered organisms - coccoid Helicobacter - Helicobacter heilmannii - Helicobacter
pylori