Q. A 45-year-old female patient presents to the medical outpatient department with a 2-week history of persistent upper abdominal pain that she describes as a gnawing or burning sensation. She notes that the pain worsens when her stomach is empty and improves slightly after meals. She also reports episodes of nausea and occasional vomiting over the same period. Her medical history is significant for osteoarthritis, for which she has been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regularly for the past six months.
On physical examination, her vital signs are stable, but she exhibits mild tenderness in the epigastric region. Routine laboratory tests, including CBC, liver, and kidney function tests, are all within normal limits. However, a stool antigen test for a specific bacteria turns is positive.
What would be the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?