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Surgical outcome of community-acquired Clostridium difficile colitis presenting as toxic megacolon: case report
Andrea P Mann1, Andrew McCague, Fariborz Lalezarzadeh
1Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, California, USA.
Background:
Over the past decade, there has been an increase in both community-acquired and health-care-associated Clostridium difficile colitis secondary to broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure. Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of pseudomembranous colitis that often necessitates emergency colectomy.
Methods:
Review of the pertinent English-language literature.
Results:
We present a case of community-acquired C. difficile colitis that made its initial presentation as fulminant toxic megacolon. Six months after a total colectomy, the patient has no complaints.
Conclusion:
Prompt total colectomy may improve survival in patients with toxic megacolon. The incidence of C. difficile-related toxic megacolon and post-operative outcomes of total colectomy should be investigated in a larger observational study.
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