Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) could transmit from person to person, and via consumption of contaminated food and water. Water trash collectors are usually in close contact with trash, raising the question whether they have a higher risk of H. pylori infection.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection among water trash collectors and family membersof Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and to evaluate the occupational and intrafamilial risk for H. pylori infection.

Materials and Methods: Through a cross-sectional study design, water-trash collectors of BMA and their family members were invited to be tested for H. pylori infection via urea breath test (¹⁴ C-UBT). All participants completed a questionnaire requesting information about socio-demographic data, employment data, personal hygiene, and presence of dyspeptic symptoms

Results: One hundred forty-nine water trash collectors were enrolled. Mean age was 46.3 years and male accounted for 51%.The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 61.7% in trash collectors and 76% in their family members. For the trash collectors, an educational level below grade 12 (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 13.87, 95% CI 1.59-121.02), p=0.017) and sharing food without a serving spoon (adjusted OR 4.28, 95% CI 1.26-14.48, p=0.019) significantly increased the risk of H. pylori infection, while drinking filtered water protected against H. pylori infection (adjusted OR 0.36, 95% CI 0.13-0.99, p=0.049). Work behaviors and family members were not associated with H pylori infection.

Conclusions: Water trash collectors have a higher prevalence of H. pylori infection than among the general Thai population but our results could not demonstrate any occupational risk factors for H. pylori infection.