From Hemorrhage to Diarrhea: The Comprehensive Clinical Journey of a Patient With Pseudomembranous Colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis (PC) is an inflammation of the colon primarily caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile (C. difficile), often following antibiotic use. This case report describes the intricate clinical course of a 48-year-old male farmer with a history of chronic alcoholism, tobacco use, and seizure disorder, who presented with acute onset of left-sided weakness. CT brain revealed an intra-axial hemorrhage in the right gangliocapsular region with significant edema and midline shift. The patient's condition necessitated mechanical ventilation due to a low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Complications ensued with the onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) on day six, attributed to multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, which was managed with meropenem and polymyxin. Following successful weaning from the ventilator, he experienced severe watery diarrhea, high-grade fever, and diffuse abdominal pain on day 13. Subsequent stool tests confirmed PC caused by C. difficile, characterized by diffuse colonic wall-thickening with a water target sign on contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) abdomen. Initial treatment with oral vancomycin and metronidazole was followed by symptomatic treatment. Two weeks later, the patient had a relapse of PC, presenting with multiple episodes of loose stools, which was managed with oral metronidazole alone. Colonoscopy and biopsy confirmed the relapse, showing inflamed colonic mucosa with pseudomembranes. This case highlights the importance of strict infection control, prudent antibiotic use, and close monitoring for these patients. It also suggests the potential role of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for recurrent cases. The patient's recovery demonstrates the effectiveness of meticulous medical management and adherence to infection control protocols in achieving optimal outcomes.