Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea and colitis.
Clostridium difficile-induced diarrhea (CDAD) and colitis (CDAC) are important nosocomial (hospital)-acquired infections resulting almost exclusively from antibiotic therapy and certain host factors. The severity of these disorders may range from simple diarrhea that can be resolved easily with antibiotic cessation to fulminant pseudomembranous colitis with fever, severe dehydration, abdominal pain and distention, and plaque formation over part or all of the colon. Community-acquired CDAD and CDAC are far less problematic but nevertheless may affect 20,000 or more people in the United States every year. Knowledge of the risk factors for CDAD and CDAC, including certain antibiotics, and recognition of the entire spectrum of signs and symptoms of this disorder are imperative for good dental practice. Likewise the prevention of recurrence of CDAD by judicious use of antibiotics in its immediate posttreatment period is an important consideration.
Pallasch
T J
TJ
USC School of Dentistry, University Park MC-0641, Los Angeles 90089-0641, USA.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents