title: Pseudomembranous colitis following clarithromycin therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the association of clarithromycin, used to treat Helicobacter pylori infection and duodenal ulceration, with pseudomembranous colitis in two patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two female patients aged 77 and 78 years, admitted with duodenal ulceration and H. pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clarithromycin (500 mg three times daily) was administered concurrently with omeprazole (40 mg once daily).
  
  
  METHODS
  After an initial improvement in symptoms both patients experienced persistent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose clarithromycin should be used with caution for the treatment of H. pylori infection associated with gastroduodenal ulceration. The drug may induce antibiotic-associated colitis which can lead to morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Teare
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D017291:Clarithromycin