Cephalosporins Associated Pseudomembraneous Colitis in an Elderly Male Patient - A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea affects 10-30% of patients, with pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) occurring in 1-5% of cases.
• Fluoroquinolones, clindamycin, penicillins, and cephalosporins are frequently linked to PMC.
• The association between cephalosporins and PMC is well-established in medical literature.

Observation:

• A 78-year-old male developed pseudomembranous colitis following administration of Ceftriaxone and Cefazoline for pleural effusion.
• Diagnosis was confirmed via ultrasonography and CT scan.
• Despite cessation of causative agents and systemic therapy, the patient experienced respiratory complications and expired.

Findings:

• Ceftriaxone and Cefazoline, both cephalosporins, were implicated in the development of pseudomembranous colitis.
• The patient's outcome was complicated by respiratory issues, leading to mortality.
• This case highlights the potential severity of cephalosporin-induced PMC.

Implications:

• Increased prescriber awareness of high-risk antibiotics like cephalosporins is essential.
• Close patient monitoring for adverse drug reactions is critical.
• Prompt withdrawal of the causative antibiotic agent can mitigate management complexities and improve patient outcomes.