What is the etiological agent of pseudomembranous colitis?

Pseudomembranous (SOO-doe-mem-bruh-nus) colitis, also called antibiotic-associated colitis or C. difficile colitis, is inflammation of the colon associated with an overgrowth of the bacterium Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) — often called C. diff.

What is the most common cause for developing pseudomembranous colitis?

Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria. This infection is a common cause of diarrhea after antibiotic use.

What is the predisposing factor in pseudomembranous colitis?

Pseudomembranous (entero)colitis is primarily caused by Clostridium difficile infection. The most common predisposing factor is prior use of antibiotics, including vancomycin and metronidazole, which themselves are therapy for C difficile colitis.

What causes pseudomembranous inflammation?

Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) is inflammation in your colon that happens when there’s too much of certain bacteria in your system. The bacterium that causes PMC isClostridium difficile, or C. diff. PMC is also called antibiotic-associated colitis or C.

What is an example of pseudomembranous inflammation?

Examples include Behcet’s disease, collagenous colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, ischemic colitis, other infections organisms (e.g. bacteria, parasites, viruses), and a handful of drugs and toxins.

What is the pathophysiology of Clostridium difficile?

Clostridioides difficile (formerly Clostridium difficile) colitis results from a disturbance of the normal bacterial flora of the colon, colonization by C difficile, and the release of toxins that cause mucosal inflammation and damage. Antibiotic therapy is the key factor that alters the colonic flora.

What is the difference between C. difficile colitis and pseudomembranous colitis?

Symptoms and Causes For some people, C. diff is part of the normal bacterial flora, or the collection of bacteria, in the gastrointestinal tract. Pseudomembranous colitis results from changes to the bacterial flora after you use antibiotics.

What causes C. diff?

You are more likely to get a C. diff infection if you take antibiotics for more than a week. C. diff spreads when people touch food, surfaces, or objects that are contaminated with feces (poop) from a person who has C.

What is the pseudomembrane?

A pseudomembrane is a false membrane in the eye that sometimes develops during infections and inflammations. It typically covers the conjunctiva, or the white part of the eyes, and can be very uncomfortable.

How is pseudomembranous colitis diagnosed?

Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. In both of these tests, your doctor uses a tube with a miniature camera at its tip to examine the inside of your colon for signs of pseudomembranous colitis — raised, yellow plaques (lesions), as well as swelling.

Does C. diff always cause pseudomembranous colitis?

Abstract. Although Clostridium difficile infection is the cause of most cases of pseudomembranous colitis, clinicians should consider less common causes, especially if pseudomembranes are seen on endoscopy but testing remains negative for C difficile or if presumed C difficile infection does not respond to treatment.

What is the major virulence factor for C. diff?

Once vegetative cell growth has been established the major virulence factors produced by C. difficile are the exotoxins TcdA and TcdB. Clinical strains that do not produce at least one of these toxins are largely avirulent in animal models10.