Cases of pseudomembranous colitis are relatively rare in modern medical practice. The disease is accompanied by damage to the mucous membrane of the large intestine, which is most often associated with prolonged use of antibiotics. What is this disease and what are its symptoms?
The main causes of pseudomembranous colitis
As already mentioned, inflammation of the mucous membrane occurs against the background of antibiotic therapy. It's no secret that antibiotics inhibit the activity of almost all microorganisms that inhabit the intestines. But the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium difficile tolerates the effects of antibacterial agents on a wide spectrum. In the absence of competition, these pathogenic organisms begin to multiply rapidly, releasing the products of their vital activity - toxins that irritate the tissues of the large intestine, causing inflammation.
The use of almost any antibacterial drug can lead to the development of pseudomembranous colitis. However, in most cases, the disease occurs during treatment with drugs such as Ampicillin, Clindamycin, less commonly, Erythromycin, Levomycetin, Penicillin, Trimethoprim, and Erythromycin.
In addition to prolonged use of antibiotics, there are other risk factors, in particular, intestinal ischemia, surgery, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation.
What are the symptoms of colitis?
Most often, the
first signs of the disease appear two weeks after the start of taking antibiotics. More rarely, the disease develops after the treatment is discontinued. Fever and cramping abdominal pain are the first symptoms of
pseudomembranous colitis.In addition, diarrhea is an integral part of the clinical picture. Feces can be watery with a characteristic greenish tint and offensive odor. In more severe cases, blood stains can be noticed in the stool. Together with the feces, a filmy material is released, which is clots of mucus and fibrin - this is an important sign for diagnosis.
It is worth noting that pseudomembranous enterocolitis is an extremely dangerous disease, especially if the patient is not provided with appropriate assistance. In the most severe cases, intestinal perforation is possible.
How is pseudomembranous colitis treated?
Of course, first of all, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination, to take blood and stool samples for analysis, as this is the only way to confirm the presence of the disease. Antibiotics should be discontinued (only those cases where the abolition of such treatment will endanger the patient's life) are an exception. In the early stages, discontinuation of antibiotic therapy can lead to a complete recovery.
Naturally, it is extremely important to maintain a water-electrolytic balance in the body, since diarrhea can quickly lead to dehydration. Treatment of enterocolitis in adults sometimes involves taking Metronidazole or Vancomycin - sometimes only using these drugs helps get rid of anaerobic bacteria - pathogens. In addition, it is necessary to repopulate the intestines with beneficial microorganisms. For this purpose, Linex, Bifiform and some others are used. With intestinal perforation and other complications, surgical intervention is required.