Definition
Pseudomembranous colitis is a serious inflammation of the colon mucosa. It is caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile and usually occurs in conjunction with previous antibiotic therapy. Untreated, pseudomembranous colitis can be fatal. The main symptom of this disease is massive watery diarrhea, which can contain blood.
EpidemiologyFrequency
Exact figures on the contamination rate with Clostridium difficile (pseudomembranous colitis) are not known. It is estimated that about 3% of all adults and about 50% of infants carry Clostridium difficile in their intestines. However, there are no signs of clinical symptoms.
However, it is a fact that the bacterium is present in most hospitals. The risk for the patient of coming into contact with this pathogen is correspondingly high. Particularly at risk are patients with long hospital stays, a broad antibiotic therapy, or multimorbid patients. These are also at the same time clearly more endangered to actually fall ill with pseudomembranous colitis.
Cause pseudomembranous colitis
The bacterium Clostridium difficile of pseudomembranous colitis is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium and not a natural inhabitant of the human intestinal mucosa. However, the bacterium is very widespread in hospitals and is easily transmitted to patients through objects or personnel. What activates the dormant bacterium in the intestine is still not sufficiently known.
However, antibiotics are regarded as one of the most important triggers. The explanation for this is the natural protection of the intestinal flora, which is disturbed by antibiotic therapy. Thus the bacterium Clostridium difficile has the possibility to multiply and attack the intestine.
This leads to antibiotic-associated colitis, which is much easier to treat than the actual pseudomembranous colitis. (Once the bacterium is activated in the intestine, it can multiply very quickly and produces two different toxins. Toxin A is a cytotoxin that significantly increases electrolyte excretion and is thus responsible for the aqueous diarrhea.
Toxin B is a cell-damaging toxin that attacks the intestinal wall and leads to massive inflammation. In addition, parts of the intestinal wall are thickened because fibrin and exudate together form a membrane on the mucous membranes. This happens during the inflammation and explains the name of pseudomembranous colitis.
If the bacterium is activated in the intestine, it can multiply very quickly and produces two different toxins. Toxin A is a cytotoxin that significantly increases electrolyte excretion and is thus responsible for watery diarrhea. Toxin B is a cell-damaging toxin that attacks the intestinal wall and leads to massive inflammation. In addition, parts of the intestinal wall are thickened because fibrin and exudate together form a membrane on the mucous membranes. This happens during the inflammation and explains the name of pseudomembranous colitis.
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