Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

Jump to navigation Jump to search

Pseudomembranous colitis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Pseudomembranous Colitis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

X Ray

CT

Other Imaging Findings

Other Diagnostic Studies

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Surgery

Prevention

Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings On the Web

Most recent articles

Most cited articles

Review articles

CME Programs

Powerpoint slides

Images

American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

All Images
X-rays
Echo & Ultrasound
CT Images
MRI

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse

NICE Guidance

FDA on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

CDC on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings in the news

Blogs on Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

Directions to Hospitals Treating Pseudomembranous colitis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Pseudomembranous colitis laboratory findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Laboratory Findings

In order to make the diagnosis, it is, of course, essential that the treating physician be aware of any recent antibiotic usage. The disease may occur as late as one or two months after the use of antibiotics. Although there is some relationship between dose/duration of antibiotic and likelihood of developing pseudomembranous colitis, it may occur even after a single dose of antibiotic. In fact, the use of single-dose antibiotic is a common practice in surgical patients for whom such a treatment is often given just prior to surgery in order to prevent infection at the surgical site. Hence, even though unlikely to cause pseudomembranous colitis on a per-case basis, single-dose antibiotic treatment, by virtue of the large number of patients receiving such, is an important cause of pseudomembranous colitis.

Prior to the advent of tests to detect the Clostridium difficile toxin, the diagnosis was most often made by colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. The appearance of "pseudomembranes" on the surface of the colon or rectum is diagnostic of the condition. The pseudomembranes are composed of inflammatory debris, white blood cells, etc.

Although colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are still employed, stool testing for the presence of Clostridium difficile toxin is now often the first-line diagnostic appraoach. Usually, only two toxins are tested for - Toxin A and Toxin B - but the organism produces at least several others. It is, perhaps, for this reason that some people who seem to have pseudomembranous colitis (i.e. a history of antibiotic use, non-bloody diarrhea, and the presence of pseudomembranes seen on colonoscopy) do not have detectable C. diff toxin in their stool.

References

Template:WH Template:WS