A Case of Rifampicin Induced Pseudomembranous Colitis.
10.4046/trd.2000.49.6.774
- Author:
Jong Wook YUN
;
Jung Hye HWANG
;
Hyoung Suk HAM
;
Han Chul LEE
;
Gil Hwan ROH
;
Soo Jung KANG
;
Gee Young SUH
;
Ho Joong KIM
;
Man Pyo CHUNG
;
O Jung KWON
;
Chong H RHEE
;
Hee Chung SON
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Pseudomembranous colitis;
Rifampicin;
Clostridium difficile
- MeSH:
Aged;
Anti-Bacterial Agents;
Biopsy;
Chest Pain;
Clostridium difficile;
Diarrhea;
Dyspnea;
Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous*;
Ethambutol;
Gastrointestinal Tract;
Humans;
Isoniazid;
Lung;
Metronidazole;
Mucous Membrane;
Physical Examination;
Pleural Effusion;
Respiratory Sounds;
Rifampin*;
Sigmoidoscopy;
Sputum;
Thorax;
Tuberculosis;
Vancomycin
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2000;49(6):774-779
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Pseudomembranous colitis, although uncommon, is an important complication of antibiotics that is related to a variety of deleterious effects on the gastrointestinal tract. Rifampicin is one of the 1st line agents in the treatment of tuberculosis and a large number of patients are exposed to its potential adverse effects. We report upon a patient that had diarrhea due to pseudomembranous colitis after receiving antitubeculous medication, and which was probably caused by rifampicin. A 77-year-old man was admitted with diarrhea of three weeks duration. One month previously, he suffered from left pleuritic chest pain and left pleural effusion was noticed at chest X-ray. One week prior to the onset of diarrhea, he was started on empirically isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazynamide as antituberculous medication. On admission, he complained of diarrhea, left pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea and sputum. On physical examination, breathing sound was decreased in the left lower lung field and bowel sound increased. Pleural biopsy revealed chronic granulomatous infalmmation, which was compatible with tuberculosis. Sigmoidoscopy showed whitish to yellowish pseudomembrane with intervening normal mucosa, and his stool was positive for C.difficle toxin. He was diagnosed as pseudomembranous colitis and treated with oral metronidazole and vancomycin. The diarrhea did not recur after reinstitution of the anti-tuberculous medication without rifampicin. In patients with severe diarrhea receining anti-tuberculous medication, rifampicin induced pseudomembranous colitis should be excluded.
