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Fulminant
postcesarean Clostridium difficile pseudomembranous colitis.Obstet
Gynecol. 2007 Feb;109(2 Pt2):541-3.
BACKGROUND:
Pseudomembranous colitis due to Clostridium difficile infection is
rarely reported in the obstetric literature. This disease process is
associated with prior antibiotic exposure. CASE: A term primigravida
was delivered by primary cesarean for failed vacuum extraction. She
received Intravenous cefazolin after cord clamping, which was
continued for 36 hours for a presumptive diagnosis of endometritis. On
day 3, oral amoxicillin and clavulanate was started for suspected
cellulitis of the incision. She was readmitted 1 day after her
discharge with severe diffuse abdominal pain and distention.
Proctoscopy showed pseudomembranous colitis. Colectomy with temporary
ileostomy was performed for worsening symptoms and imminent
perforation. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of pseudomembranous colitis
should be considered in postpartum women who have low-grade fever,
abdominal and gastrointestinal symptoms, and recent antibiotic
exposure.
Pseudomembraneous colitis caused by a toxin B-positive and a toxin
A-negative strain of Clostridium difficile.
Ugeskr Laeger. 2006 Apr
24;168(17):1634-5.
We describe a
case of pseudomembraneous colitis (PMC) caused by a toxin A- B+ strain
of Clostridium difficile (CD). In Denmark only a few laboratories
investigate for toxin production, and if they do, the toxin A enzyme
immunoassay (EIA) is the test generally used when testing for CD. This
toxin A negative but toxin B positive strain thus remains
undetectable. If CD-associated diarrhea is clinically suspected and
tests for toxin A are negative, infection with a toxin A- B+ strain
should be considered. Further diagnostic tests such as cellular
cytotoxicity assays or toxin A/B EIA should be performed. The standard
treatment of PMC in severely ill patients should be vancomycin,
administered orally. |