Pseudomembranous colitis - Report of a severe case with unusual clinical signs in a young nurse

We describe the case of a young and otherwise healthy nurse who developed p seudomembranous colitis ten days after receiving oral clindamycin for denta l infection. Her clinical course was particularly stormy and was characteri zed by severe diarrhea and vomiting, profuse ascites, pleural effusion, abd ominal tenderness, peritoneal irritation, and systemic toxicity. The Clostr idium difficile assay was negative on two occasions. Features compatible wi th pseudomembranous colitis were seen at sigmoidoscopy, and the diagnosis w as confirmed by biopsies.