

It is, perhaps, for this reason that some people who seem to have pseudomembranous colitis (i.e. Usually, only two toxins are tested for - Toxin A and Toxin B - but the organism produces at least several others. The pseudomembranes are composed of inflammatory debris, white blood cells, etc.Īlthough colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are still employed, stool testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin is now often the first-line diagnostic appraoach. The appearance of "pseudomembranes" on the surface of the colon or rectum is diagnostic of the condition. Prior to the advent of tests to detect the Clostridium difficile toxin, the diagnosis was most often made by colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Hence, even though unlikely to cause pseudomembranous colitis on a per-case basis, single-dose antibiotic treatment, by virtue of the large number of patients receiving such, is an important cause of pseudomembranous colitis.

In fact, the use of single-dose antibiotic is a common practice in surgical patients for whom such a treatment is often given just prior to surgery in order to prevent infection at the surgical site. Although there is some relationship between dose/duration of antibiotic and likelihood of developing pseudomembranous colitis, it may occur even after a single dose of antibiotic. The disease may occur as late as one or two months after the use of antibiotics. In order to make the diagnosis, it is, of course, essential that the treating physician be aware of any recent antibiotic usage. Risk calculators and risk factors for Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findingsĮditor-In-Chief: C. Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings in the newsīlogs on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findingsĭirections to Hospitals Treating Pseudomembranous colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings On the WebĪmerican Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findingsĪll Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRIįDA on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findingsĬDC on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings Abstract: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most dreaded causes of hospital-acquired diarrhea with an increasing incidence. Natural History, Complications and Prognosis Differentiating Pseudomembranous Colitis from other Diseases
