Antibiotic-associated pseudomembraneous colitis in a Nigerian--case report

th described in the 19 Century following occurrence of fatal diarrhoea in post-operative patients who 1 were administered antibiotics. Several risk factors in settings outside the use of antibiotics have since been identified. Some of these risk factors are colonic, gastric and pelvic surgeries. Others include intestinal obstruction, spinal fracture, colon carcinoma, leukaemia, severe burns, shock, haemolytic uraemic syndrome, heavy metal poisoning, ischaemic cardiovascular disease, Crohn's disease, severe infection, shigellosis, ischaemic colitis, Hirschprung's disease and 2 neonatal necrotising enterocolitis. In spite of the various causes, antimicrobial agents appears to be the commone st cause of pseudomembranous colitis. Virtually all drugs with antimicrobial properties have been associated. A recent report incriminated 3 clindamycin as the commone st associated drug The responsible organism in PMC was initially thought to be Staphylococcus aureus and was then called Staphylococcus aureus-associated enterocolitis, until 1978, when the toxins of Clostridium difficile were implicated in the great 1 majority of cases. Detection of Clostridium difficile is possible by stool assay using enzyme immunoassay that can detect toxin A and B. Most cases of PMC usually respond to antibiotic cessation and use of metronidazole, vancomycin and supportive care. Notable complications are ileus and toxic megacolon. The objective of this report was to sensitize all medical practitioners to this potentially fatal complication of use and abuse of antibiotics in clinical settings, so as to be cautious about use of multiple antibiotics and be able to recognize the condition and treat appropriately.