Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is a bacterial infection caused by a disruption of intestinal flora, often related to antibiotic use. It inflames the intestines, causing diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Hospital patients are at higher risk, and prevention strategies include limited antibiotic use and proper hygiene. Treatment requires switching antibiotics and antimicrobial medication, and in severe cases, surgery may be necessary.
Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is a bacterial infection in the lining of the colon, commonly caused by a disruption of the normal intestinal flora. It is related to antibiotic use and typically occurs in hospitals, where it is spread among patients. Pseudomembranous enterocolitis inflames the intestines and leads to the formation of yellowish plaques, causing foul-smelling watery diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. If left untreated, this infection could lead to colon perforation.
Patients with pseudomembranous enterocolitis often become severely dehydrated because they lose so much fluid from diarrhea. Electrolytes could also become out of balance, causing shock. In severe cases, the fever could reach dangerously high levels and the abdomen could become quite hard, aching when pressure is applied. Doctors typically order intravenous fluids to rehydrate the body in severe cases. People with mild attacks may notice loose stools for several days and few other symptoms.
Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is linked to Clostridium difficile, a spore-forming bacterium that flourishes when the normal conditions of the colon change. The use of antibiotics could destroy the healthy bacteria that regulate Clostridium difficile production. This bacterium produces toxins that stick to the mucous membranes in the intestines. In chronic cases, toxins can invade intestinal tissue and cause death.
Hospital patients are at a higher risk for the disorder, especially those in intensive care units and the elderly. Patients who require abdominal surgery, including cesarean delivery, become more susceptible to infections. Cancer patients also face risks of pseudomembranous enterocolitis because chemotherapy treatment could hamper their body’s ability to fight infection. Spores of Clostridium difficile survive on objects for months and can be passed on to patients by healthcare workers who don’t wash their hands.
Treatment for the disease usually requires switching to a different antibiotic and prescribing antimicrobial medications. The use of anti-diarrheal medications is not recommended as they may prolong the discomfort and cause damage to the colon. In extreme cases, surgery to resection the infected intestine may be required to save a patient’s life. If there is a danger of colon perforation, a colostomy is a treatment option.
Prevention strategies include limited use of antibiotics to avoid destroying healthy bacteria in the colon. Hospital workers who frequently wash their hands and use gloves when examining patients can prevent the spread of disease, especially after contact with body secretions. Some hospitals isolate patients with pseudomembranous enterocolitis from those susceptible to infection. Objects and tools that contain infectious spores must be sterilized after use.
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