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Antibiotic-associated colitis

V R Dowell

    Hospital Practice
    |April 1, 1979
    PubMed

    Insights

    Pseudomembranous colitis, a severe diarrheal disease, is linked to broad-spectrum antibiotics. A newly identified spore-forming clostridial species, potentially resistant to antibiotics, is the likely cause.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Infectious Diseases

    Background:

    • Pseudomembranous colitis is an uncommon but severe diarrheal disease.
    • Recent cases have been associated with broad-spectrum antibiotic use.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To identify the causative agent of antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis.
    • To understand the role of a specific clostridial species in disease pathogenesis.

    Main Methods:

    • Isolation and identification of a novel spore-forming clostridial species from patients.
    • Assessment of the organism's sensitivity to various antibiotics.

    Main Results:

    • A previously unrecognized spore-forming clostridial species was identified as the cause.
    • The organism demonstrated sensitivity to most commonly used antibiotics.

    Conclusions:

    • The newly identified clostridial species is implicated in pseudomembranous colitis.
    • The spore-forming nature of the organism may be crucial for disease transmission and persistence.

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