Antibiotic-associated colitis
1. Big picture
Antibiotic-associated colitis is most importantly Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI): diarrhea and colonic inflammation occurring during or after antibiotic exposure. It is a classic hospital-acquired / healthcare-associated infection, but it can also occur in the community.
The exam pattern is:
Recent antibiotics or hospitalization + watery diarrhea + fever/abdominal pain/leukocytosis → think C. difficile until proven otherwise.
C. difficile causes diarrhea and colitis, can be life-threatening, and most cases occur during antibiotic treatment or shortly after finishing antibiotics. Antibiotics disturb the normal gut microbiome, allowing C. difficile spores to germinate and produce toxins. ([Restored CDC][1])
Unlock the rest of this topic
Subscribe to Internal Medicine for $10/month and unlock all 229 topics — full exam-structured notes, the State Exam questions integrated into every topic, and the downloadable Anki deck. Cancel anytime.
- ✓All 229 Internal Medicine topics, exam-structured
- ✓State Exam questions in every topic
- ✓Downloadable Anki deck (.apkg)
- ✓Cancel anytime
Already subscribed? Sign in