Guest guest Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 Hi, C-diff (that's short for clostridium difficile) is a bacterium, that can become dangerous when it causes a colitis (inflammation of the colon). That's quite a risk for pwcf since the constant use of antibiotics is the main reason for c-diff colitis. Peace Torsten Can J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;15(9):586-90. Related Articles, Links Colonic disorders in adult cystic fibrosis. Chaun H. St 's Hospital and University of British Columbia, 805 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1K1, Canada. hchaun@... By 1996, the median survival of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in North America had increased to 31 years. With the markedly improved life expectancy, many CF patients are now adults. There is an associated increased risk of certain colonic disorders, and the emergence of other previously unrecognized disorders, in adult CF patients. The distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), which is more common in older patients, is a frequent cause of abdominal pain. Intussusception may complicate DIOS; other differential diagnoses include appendiceal disease, volvolus, Crohn's disease, fibrosing colonopathy and colonic carcinoma. The diagnosis of acute appendicitis, although uncommon in patients with CF, is often delayed, and appendiceal abscess is a frequent complication. The prevalence of Crohn's disease in CF has been shown to be 17 times that of the general population. Right-sided microscopic colitis is a recently recognized entity in CF of uncertain clinical significance. Fibrosing colonopathy has been confined mostly to children with CF, attributed to the use of high strength pancreatic enzyme supplements, but it has been reported in three adults. Nine cases of carcinoma of the large intestine have been reported worldwide, associated with an apparent excess risk of digestive tract cancers in CF. Despite high carrier rates of Clostridium difficile in patients with CF, pseudomembranous colitis is distinctly rare, but severe cases complicated by toxic megacolon have been reported. In these patients, watery diarrhea is often absent. Adult CF patients with refractory or unexplained intestinal symptoms merit thorough investigations. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999 Feb;172(2):517-21. Related Articles, Links Atypical presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients with cystic fibrosis. Binkovitz LA, E, Bloom D, Long F, Hammond S, Buonomo C, Donnelly LF. Department of Radiology, Columbus Children's Hospital, OH 43205, USA. OBJECTIVE: This report describes the unusual presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in five patients with cystic fibrosis and the role of CT in first suggesting the correct diagnosis in this group of patients. Because of the absence of watery diarrhea and the presence of abdominal bloating and decreased stooling, cystic fibrosis patients with C. difficile colitis will be treated for stool impaction, meconium ileus equivalent, or distal intestinal obstruction syndrome. CT of the abdomen, performed in these five patients because of their lack of improvement after standard therapy for stool impaction, showed an extensive pancolitis later confirmed to be caused by C. difficile infection. CONCLUSION: In patients with cystic fibrosis, imaging findings of a pancolitis should raise the possibility of C. difficile colitis despite the lack of watery diarrhea. Anticlostridial treatment can be initiated before bacteriologic confirmation is obtained. PMID: 9930816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 16, 2003 Report Share Posted July 16, 2003 Our 7 month old daughter has had a c-diff infection since April. Can anyone help me understand what all this information means. Our daughter has been on Flagyl for the c-diff, but they do also use Vanco if necessary. Now, I'm wondering if we shouldn't pull in the big V (rather than just the Flagyl) to totally eridicate it. The Dr. told us he wants to " save " Vanco for future lung infections. Any advise??? > Hi, > > C-diff (that's short for clostridium difficile) is a bacterium, that > can become dangerous when it causes a colitis (inflammation of the > colon). That's quite a risk for pwcf since the constant use of > antibiotics is the main reason for c-diff colitis. > > Peace > Torsten > > Can J Gastroenterol. 2001 Sep;15(9):586-90. Related Articles, Links > > > Colonic disorders in adult cystic fibrosis. > > Chaun H. > > St 's Hospital and University of British Columbia, 805 West > Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 1K1, Canada. > hchaun@c... > > By 1996, the median survival of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in > North America had increased to 31 years. With the markedly improved > life expectancy, many CF patients are now adults. There is an > associated increased risk of certain colonic disorders, and the > emergence of other previously unrecognized disorders, in adult CF > patients. The distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), which is > more common in older patients, is a frequent cause of abdominal pain. > Intussusception may complicate DIOS; other differential diagnoses > include appendiceal disease, volvolus, Crohn's disease, fibrosing > colonopathy and colonic carcinoma. The diagnosis of acute > appendicitis, although uncommon in patients with CF, is often > delayed, and appendiceal abscess is a frequent complication. The > prevalence of Crohn's disease in CF has been shown to be 17 times > that of the general population. Right-sided microscopic colitis is a > recently recognized entity in CF of uncertain clinical significance. > Fibrosing colonopathy has been confined mostly to children with CF, > attributed to the use of high strength pancreatic enzyme supplements, > but it has been reported in three adults. Nine cases of carcinoma of > the large intestine have been reported worldwide, associated with an > apparent excess risk of digestive tract cancers in CF. Despite high > carrier rates of Clostridium difficile in patients with CF, > pseudomembranous colitis is distinctly rare, but severe cases > complicated by toxic megacolon have been reported. In these patients, > watery diarrhea is often absent. Adult CF patients with refractory or > unexplained intestinal symptoms merit thorough investigations. > > > > AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999 Feb;172(2):517-21. Related Articles, > Links > > > Atypical presentation of Clostridium difficile colitis in patients > with cystic fibrosis. > > Binkovitz LA, E, Bloom D, Long F, Hammond S, Buonomo C, > Donnelly LF. > > Department of Radiology, Columbus Children's Hospital, OH 43205, USA. > > OBJECTIVE: This report describes the unusual presentation of > Clostridium difficile colitis in five patients with cystic fibrosis > and the role of CT in first suggesting the correct diagnosis in this > group of patients. Because of the absence of watery diarrhea and the > presence of abdominal bloating and decreased stooling, cystic > fibrosis patients with C. difficile colitis will be treated for stool > impaction, meconium ileus equivalent, or distal intestinal > obstruction syndrome. CT of the abdomen, performed in these five > patients because of their lack of improvement after standard therapy > for stool impaction, showed an extensive pancolitis later confirmed > to be caused by C. difficile infection. CONCLUSION: In patients with > cystic fibrosis, imaging findings of a pancolitis should raise the > possibility of C. difficile colitis despite the lack of watery > diarrhea. Anticlostridial treatment can be initiated before > bacteriologic confirmation is obtained. > > PMID: 9930816 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.