A. Nawaz et al., CLOSTRIDIUM-DIFFICILE COLITIS ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION, The American journal of gastroenterology, 93(7), 1998, pp. 1175-1176
Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach is being detected and tre
ated more often now than ever before. This is likely to result in an i
ncrease in complications such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, Howev
er, there is no literature on the incidence of such diarrhea, particul
arly Clostridium difficile colitis, in patients treated for Helicobact
er pylori infection, We report the case of a patient who developed Clo
stridium difficile colitis after treatment for Helicobacter pylori inf
ection with metronidazole, amoxicillin, H2 blockers, and bismuth subsa
licylate. This patient presented with severe diarrhea that responded t
o a course of metronidazole with rapid disappearance of symptoms. The
incidence of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients treated for Hel
icobacter pylori infection has not been studied. This unique associati
on, although not unexpected, has not yet been reported in the literatu
re. The increasing number of patients being diagnosed and treated for
this infection requires a heightened awareness on the part of physicia
ns, to assure early diagnosis and treatment of this treatable, yet pot
entially dangerous, complication. (C) 1998 by Am. Cell, of Gastroenter
ology.