title: Surgical outcome of community-acquired Clostridium difficile colitis presenting as toxic megacolon: case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past decade, there has been an increase in both community-acquired and health-care-associated Clostridium difficile colitis secondary to broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure. Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of pseudomembranous colitis that often necessitates emergency colectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the pertinent English-language literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We present a case of community-acquired C. difficile colitis that made its initial presentation as fulminant toxic megacolon. Six months after a total colectomy, the patient has no complaints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prompt total colectomy may improve survival in patients with toxic megacolon. The incidence of C. difficile-related toxic megacolon and post-operative outcomes of total colectomy should be investigated in a larger observational study.
authors.affiliation: Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, California, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McCague
authors.forename: Fariborz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lalezarzadeh
mesh_terms: D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003082:Colectomy; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008532:Megacolon, Toxic / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome