Surgical outcome of community-acquired Clostridium difficile colitis presenting as toxic megacolon: case report.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Over the past decade, there has been an increase in both community-acquired and health-care-associated Clostridium difficile colitis secondary to broad-spectrum antibiotic exposure. Toxic megacolon is a rare complication of pseudomembranous colitis that often necessitates emergency colectomy.

METHODS:

Review of the pertinent English-language literature.

RESULTS:

We present a case of community-acquired C. difficile colitis that made its initial presentation as fulminant toxic megacolon. Six months after a total colectomy, the patient has no complaints.

CONCLUSION:

Prompt total colectomy may improve survival in patients with toxic megacolon. The incidence of C. difficile-related toxic megacolon and post-operative outcomes of total colectomy should be investigated in a larger observational study.

• Authors: Andrea P Mann, Andrew McCague, Fariborz Lalezarzadeh
• Journal: Surgical infections (Surg Infect (Larchmt)) Vol. 12 Issue 4 Pg. 317-20 (Aug 2011) ISSN: 1557-8674 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21859335 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Clostridioides difficile (isolation & purification)
• Colectomy
• Community-Acquired Infections (complications, surgery)
• Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous (complications, surgery)
• Humans
• Male
• Megacolon, Toxic (surgery)
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome