Clostridium difficile colitis associated with treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection.
Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach is being detected and treated more often now than ever before. This is likely to result in an increase in complications such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea. However, there is no literature on the incidence of such diarrhea, particularly Clostridium difficile colitis, in patients treated for Helicobacter pylori infection. We report the case of a patient who developed Clostridium difficile colitis after treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection with metronidazole, amoxicillin, H2 blockers, and bismuth subsalicylate. This patient presented with severe diarrhea that responded to a course of metronidazole with rapid disappearance of symptoms. The incidence of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients treated for Helicobacter pylori infection has not been studied. This unique association, although not unexpected, has not yet been reported in the literature. The increasing number of patients being diagnosed and treated for this infection requires a heightened awareness on the part of physicians, to assure early diagnosis and treatment of this treatable, yet potentially dangerous, complication.
Division of Gastroenterology, Nassau County Medical Center, State University of New York Stony Brook, East Meadow 11554, USA.
A
A
Nawaz
I
I
Mohammed
K
K
Ahsan
A
A
Karakurum
C
C
Hadjiyane
C
C
Pellecchia
D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001729:Bismuth / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012459:Salicylates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010406:Penicillins; D012459:Salicylates; D008795:Metronidazole; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D000658:Amoxicillin; D001729:Bismuth