Pseudomembranous colitis. A fatal case following prophylactic cephaloridine therapy

Prospective study of Clostridium difficile intestinal colonization and disease following single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery

A total of 108 volunteers undergoing an elective surgical procedure were randomly given a single 2-g intravenous prophylactic dose of either a cephalosporin or mezlocillin. Stool samples were cultured for Clostridium difficile the day before the operation and later on postoperative days 4, 7, and 14. C. difficile was detected in 23.0% of patients who received a cephalosporin (cefoxitin, 8.3%; cefazolin, 14.3%; cefotetan, 20.0%; ceftriaxone, 25.0%; cefoperazone, 43.7%), in 3.3% of patients given mezlocillin, and in none of 15 control volunteers given no antimicrobial agent. No patient experienced diarrhea.

Pseudomembranous colitis following cephradine prophylaxis

Two patients on antibiotic prophylaxis with cephradine after orthopaedic implant surgery developed pseudomembranous colitis. Routine administration of antibiotics after such surgery is the policy at many centres. Development of diarrhoea in these patients should be viewed seriously lest this condition is overlooked. Despite recent advances, pseudomembranous colitis can still have a fatal outcome.