title: Antimicrobial agent-associated colitis and diarrhea.
abstract: Although antimicrobial agent-associated colitis has been recognized as a clinicopathologic entity for years, the cause of this disease has been determined only recently. Virtually all cases of pseudomembranous colitis and some cases of antimicrobial agent-associated nonspecific colitis or diarrhea have been shown to be caused by a toxin of Clostridium difficile. Methods for cultivating C difficile from feces and for detecting the toxin have been developed. Oral administration of vancomycin has proved to be effective for the treatment of C difficile-induced colitis, although isolated instances of relapse after treatment have been documented.The discovery of C difficile as a human intestinal pathogen has provided an explanation for some, but not all cases of antimicrobial agent-associated diarrhea. The epidemiology, pathogenesis and means of prevention of C difficile toxin-induced diarrhea remain to be determined.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D003092:Colitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin