Pseudomembranous colitis: a clinical analysis and review of literatures

Clostridium difficile has been well known to be a pathogen of pseudomembranous colitis. It is characterized by the formation of elevated plaques and pseudomembranes which result in varying degree of diarrhea. This series analysed 20 cases of pseudomembranous colitis diagnosed at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January 1985 and December 1989. The male to female ratio was 1:3. Their ages ranged between 13 and 81 years, with a mean of 53.7 years. Sixteen of our patients claimed to have taken antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, cellulitis or acute pelvic inflammatory disease within six weeks before onset of symptoms. The antibiotics were mainly in the penicillin group and cephalosporin group. Clinical presentations included diarrhea of varying degree, fever, and abdominal pain. The diagnosis was made by the typical colonic mucosal changes under sigmoidoscopic or colonoscopic examination and pathological findings. The lesions were prominent in the rectum and sigmoid colon. Eleven cases were treated with vancomycin. Of these, one failed and died, and two recurred. The two recurrences were again treated with the same dose of vancomycin and with complete remission. Three of our patients responded to metronidazole. The other six cases with milder symptoms were successfully controlled by using cholestyramine (2 cases) or by supportive treatment (4 cases).