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A case of pseudomembranous colitis associated with rifampin

Ji Young Park1, Joon Seok Kim, Sun Jong Jeung

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
|February 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Rifampin, an antitubercular agent, can cause pseudomembranous colitis, a rare side effect. This case highlights the need to consider rifampin when diagnosing this condition in patients undergoing tuberculosis treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pseudomembranous colitis is typically associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use.
  • Antitubercular agents are infrequently reported as causative agents for pseudomembranous colitis.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with recurrent bloody, mucoid diarrhea and abdominal pain following antituberculosis therapy.
  • Clinical and histological findings confirmed pseudomembranous colitis.

Findings:

  • Discontinuation of rifampin and oral metronidazole administration led to symptom resolution.
  • Changing the antitubercular regimen to isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide prevented recurrence.

Implications:

  • Rifampin should be considered as a potential cause of pseudomembranous colitis in patients treated for tuberculosis.
  • This case underscores the importance of a thorough medication history in diagnosing gastrointestinal adverse events.
  • Further investigation into the mechanisms linking antitubercular drugs to colitis may be warranted.

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