Relapse of antibiotic-associated colitis after vancomycin therapy

Antibiotic-associated colitis, although occasionally fatal, is a disease which is considered to be self-limiting and non-recurring. Recently, specific treatment with oral vancomycin directed at the trigger organism, Clostridium difficile, has been shown to be effective. A case in which antibiotic-associated colitis was treated with vancomycin and subsequently recurred is described. The fact that such relapse can occur indicates that further evaluation of the efficacy of vancomycin is required.