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Background  Helicobacter pylori infection is eradicated with antimicrobial agents and drug‐resistant strains make successful treatment difficult. Geographical variations in virulence‐factor genotype also exist.

Aim  To evaluate prevalence of drug resistance and virulence‐factor genotype in Irish H. pylori strains and to investigate if there is any relationship between drug resistance and genotype.

Methods  Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from 103 patients were examined. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested by Etest. The virulence‐factor genotypes were determined using PCR. Frequencies of spontaneous metronidazole‐resistance were measured in vitro.

Results  Metronidazole resistance was present in 37.9% of strains examined. 16.5% of strains were clarithromycin‐resistant and resistance to both agents observed was found in 12.6% of strains. 68% of strains were cagA⁺. The dominant vacA type was …