ANTIBIOTIC-ASSOCIATED COLITIS IN ORTHOPEDIC PATIENTS

Antibiotic-associated colitis was diagnosed in 23 orthopaedic patients : 17 had abdominal symptoms, 3 had a fever and the remaining 3 had no symptoms but increasing C-reactive protein values or white blood count . The antibiotic was clindamycin in 19, cephalosporins in 3 and a comb ination of vancomycin and fusidic acid intravenously in one. The antib iotics were stopped in 12, changed in 5 and continued in the remaining 5. Oral treatment for colitis was given in 21 patients, and in one pa tient the only treatment was stopping the antibiotics. One patient die d after a myocardial infarct; the remaining 22 were discharged after s uccessful treatment of their primary condition and the colitis.