Treatment of antibiotic-associated colitis with vancomycin

Studies in humans and hamsters have shown that Clostridium difficile is the most important cause of antibiotic-associated colitis. A toxin produced by the organism is responsible for the disease and can be detected in the stools of patients. Proctosigmoidoscopy is the quickest, as well as the most accurate, way to establish the diagnosis. The organisms are very susceptible to vancomycin, which is highly effective in treatment of the disease and also remarkably free of serious adverse effects when given orally.