SEVERE CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE-ASSOCIATED COLITIS IN YOUNG-PATIENTS WITH CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

We report four patients with cystic fibrosis and fulminant Clostridium difficile-associated colitis: two died, and one required hemicolectom y. Three of four patients carried the N1303K mutation. Severe and fata l C.difficile colitis can occur in cystic fibrosis patients, possibly with a genotype-specific predilection (i.e., N13O3K/other). Because cy stic fibrosis patients may have a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal sy mptoms, disease caused by C.difficile must be considered when these pa tients have acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, or severe leukocytosis.