Management of postoperative pseudomembranous enterocolitis with shock; report of a case with recovery.

ALTHOUGH postoperative enterocolitis was first reported by Finney1 in 1893 and Dearing and Heilman2 mention cases encountered before the use of antibiotics, the syndrome known variously as pseudomembranous enteritis, staphylococcal enterocolitis and acute necrotizing enteritis has rarely been described until recently. The apparent increase seems to coincide with the greater use of the broad-spectrum antibiotics, particularly of the tetracycline derivatives. The depression of the normal bacterial flora upsets the natural symbiotic balance, and may produce a fertile field for the unrestricted development of certain resistant virulent bacterial strains. Coagulase-positive hemolytic staphylococci have been incriminated in the fulminating enterocolitis. Two patients . . .