Cephalosporin-associated pseudomembranous colitis due to Clostridium difficile

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Recent studies have shown considerable progress in the diagnosis, etiology, and therapy of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis. Previous work has implicated a number of antimicrobial agents, but there are relatively few reports concerning the role of cephalosporins. The subject of the present report is 17 patients with pseudomembranous colitis associated with cephalosporin use. Tissue cultures of stools from all patients showed a cytotoxin that is neutralized by Csordelliiantitoxin. Bacterial cultures of these specimens yielded strains of Cdifficilethat produced a similar cytotoxin in vitro. Nine of the patients were treated orally with vancomycin hydrochloride and all responded. This experience illustrates the importance of considering the diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis in patients in whom diarrhea develops in association with cephalosporin use. (JAMA242:2683-2685, 1979)