Acute segmental hemorrhagic antibiotic-associated colitis

Three cases of acute segmental hemorrhagic antibiotic-associated colitis ar e described occurring in three male adults between 30 and 33 years of age a fter treatment with oral ampicillin or amoxicillin because of upper respira tory tract infection, tonsillitis, or HLO eradication therapy, respectively . All presented with cramping abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea of acute onset, however, microbial analysis of fecal samples was negative. Endoscopy showed right-sided segmental hemorrhagic colitis. Histopathological examin ation demonstrated edema, patchy superficial hemorrhage and a scattered pre dominantly mononuclear infiltrate of the lamina propria. The surface epithe lium was partly desquamated and displayed foci of grouped intraepithelial r ed blood cells. All patients spontaneously recovered after discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. The value and limitations of diagnostic features are discussed with respect of the literature.