Abstract

ORELLANA, Alejandra  and  ESMERALDA, Salazar. Colitis pseudomembranosa asociada al uso de antibióticos. Acta odontol. venez [online]. 2009, vol.47, n.2, pp.439-445. ISSN 0001-6365.

Antibiotic-associated colitis is an acute inflammation of the intestinal mucosa that sometimes occurs following antibiotic treatment and is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Clostridium difficile. Diagnosis is based on culture and immunological tests to detect its toxins. When there is no response to conservative treatment (withdrawal of the antibiotic and support therapy), metronidazole or vancomycin should be given. Recurrences, up to 20%, are frequent. Preventive measures of its spreading are essential due to the elevated transmission through health care personnel and instruments.

Keywords : Pseudomembranous colitis; antibiotic-associated colitis; Clostridium difficile.