[Pseudomembranous colitis caused by antibiotics]

A case of antibiotic-induced pseudomembranous colitis is presented. Following resection of a carcinoma of the colon, an 81-year old man was treated with clindamycin for 9 days and with epicillin for another 9 days. One week after discontinuation of antibiotics the patient developed progressively severe diarrhea. Death from central pulmonary embolism ensued 10 days after the onset of diarrhea. Autopsy revealed severe pseudomembranous colitis of the entire large intestine. Pseudomembranous colitis is often observed as a complication after the administration of different antibiotics. The Anglo-American literature contains several recent reports of clindamycin-induced pseudomembranous colitis. The etiopathology of this drug-induced disease is still unclear. A possible interpretation is an antibiotic-induced change in the intestinal flora. Recent observations suggest that toxin-producing clostridia are responsible for the pseudomembranous colitis.