title: Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy after prolonged metronidazole course for treatment of C. difficile colitis.
abstract: A 65-year-old woman with a diagnosis of Clostridium difficile colitis undergoing prolonged treatment with metronidazole was admitted to hospital for altered mentation, slurred speech and weakness. She was diagnosed with metronidazole-induced encephalopathy, confirmed with brain MRI and improved when the offending agent was removed. This case report highlights encephalopathy as a complication of prolonged metronidazole treatment, which has become more common in clinical practice for the treatment of C. difficile infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert School of Medicine, Brown University, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Arkadiy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Hadeel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zainah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Kwame
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dapaah-Afriyie
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000187:drug effects*; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D008795:Metronidazole