295 lines
No EOL
32 KiB
HTML
295 lines
No EOL
32 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html lang="en" id="article" class="nojs us" data-root="//medlineplus.gov" itemid="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalWebPage" itemscope="">
|
||
<head>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top"/>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
|
||
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448"/>
|
||
<meta name="expires" content="Wed, 05 02 2025"/>
|
||
<meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary"/>
|
||
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/>
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="//medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png"/>
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/>
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?04272023"/>
|
||
<!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"><![endif]-->
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css"/>
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ency/ency2.css?07162024"/>
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">document.querySelector("html").className = document.querySelector("html").className.replace(/nojs[\s]*/g, '');</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script>
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm" itemprop="url"/>
|
||
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000259.htm"/>
|
||
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm"/><meta property="og:title" content="Pseudomembranous colitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm"/><meta property="twitter:title" content="Pseudomembranous colitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="description" content="Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria."/><meta itemprop="description" name="description" content="Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria."/><meta property="og:description" content="Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria."/><meta property="twitter:description" content="Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile (C difficile) bacteria."/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_2.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_3.jpg"/><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/>
|
||
<title>Pseudomembranous colitis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia</title>
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body><link href="http://schema.org/Patient" itemprop="audience"/>
|
||
<!-- Google Tag Manager -->
|
||
<noscript><iframe title="googletagmanager" src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">
|
||
</iframe>
|
||
</noscript>
|
||
<!-- End Google Tag Manager -->
|
||
<a name="top" id="top">
|
||
</a>
|
||
<a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a>
|
||
<section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government">
|
||
<div class="usa-accordion">
|
||
<header class="usa-banner__header">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
|
||
<div class="grid-col-auto">
|
||
<img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png" alt=""/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true">
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">
|
||
An official website of the United States government
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-action">Here’s how you know</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default">
|
||
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span>
|
||
</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default-default">
|
||
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br/>A
|
||
<strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government
|
||
organization in the United States.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br/>A
|
||
<strong>lock</strong> (
|
||
<span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false">
|
||
<title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title>
|
||
<desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc>
|
||
<path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z">
|
||
</path>
|
||
</svg> </span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to
|
||
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
|
||
secure websites.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
<div id="mplus-wrap">
|
||
<header>
|
||
<div id="mplus-header">
|
||
<!-- Orgs
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-orgs">
|
||
<a title="National Institutes of Health" target="_blank" class="nih-org" href="//www.nih.gov/">
|
||
<img alt="National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" class="nihlogo"/>
|
||
</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/"> National Library of Medicine </a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Logo
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You"/>
|
||
</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Nav Menu
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav">
|
||
<div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">The navigation menu has been collapsed.</div>
|
||
<!-- Menu Button-->
|
||
<button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" role="button" title="Menu" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-menu-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu">
|
||
</span></button><ul class="nav-list" id="mplus-menu-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
</ul><button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-search" role="button" title="Search" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-search-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0"><span class="hide-offscreen">Show </span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search">
|
||
</span></button>
|
||
<div class="top-1">
|
||
<!-- Search
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<form target="_self" title="Search MedlinePlus" action="//vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" method="get" id="mplus-search">
|
||
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus" name="v:project"/>
|
||
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus-bundle" name="v:sources"/>
|
||
<div class="form-box text-combo">
|
||
<div class="form-area"><label for="searchtext_primary" class="hide-offscreen">Search MedlinePlus</label>
|
||
<span role="status" aria-live="polite" class="ui-helper-hidden-accessible">
|
||
</span><input type="text" aria-haspopup="true" aria-autocomplete="list" role="textbox" autocomplete="off" name="query" size="40" maxlength="400" title="Site Search input" alt="Site Search input" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-text ui-autocomplete-input" id="searchtext_primary"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="button-area">
|
||
<button type="submit" alt="Search MedlinePlus" title="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-btn">GO</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
<!-- Secondary Nav
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div class="secondarynav">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/"><span>What's New</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=//medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Nav Bar
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav-bar">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<a title="Español" id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="../../spanish/ency/article/000259.htm">Español</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
<!-- Content
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-content">
|
||
<!-- Breadrcumbs -->
|
||
<div id="breadcrumbs"><div itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList" itemscope="" itemprop="breadcrumb"><span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span>
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="1"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Encyclopedia</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="2"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div><div><span>Pseudomembranous colitis</span></div></div>
|
||
<span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000259.htm
|
||
</span>
|
||
<!-- Article -->
|
||
<article><div id="d-article"><div class="page-info"><div class="page-title"><a name="start" id="start">
|
||
</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Pseudomembranous colitis</h1>
|
||
</div><div class="page-actions">
|
||
</div>
|
||
<noscript>
|
||
<span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span>
|
||
</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Pseudomembranous colitis refers to swelling or inflammation of the large intestine (colon) due to an overgrowth of <em>Clostridioides difficile</em> (<em>C difficile</em>) bacteria.</p><p>This infection is a common cause of diarrhea after antibiotic use. Not all cases of diarrhea associated with antibiotic use are due to <em>C difficile</em> or will progress to pseudomembranous colitis.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>The <em>C difficile</em> bacteria normally lives in the intestine. However, too much of these bacteria may grow when you take antibiotic medicines. The bacteria give off a strong toxin that causes inflammation and bleeding in the lining of the colon.</p><p>Any antibiotic can cause this condition. The medicines responsible for the problem most of the time are ampicillin, clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, and cephalosporins.</p><p>Health care providers in the hospital may pass this bacteria from one patient to another.</p><p>Pseudomembranous colitis is uncommon in children, and rare in infants. It is most often seen in people who are in the hospital. However, it is becoming more common in people who take antibiotics and are not in a hospital.</p><p>Risk factors include:</p><ul><li>Older age</li><li>Antibiotic use</li><li>Use of medicines that weaken the immune system (such as chemotherapy medicines)</li><li>Recent surgery</li><li>History of pseudomembranous colitis</li><li>History of <a test="test" href="./000250.htm">ulcerative colitis</a>, <a test="test" href="./000249.htm">Crohn disease</a>, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). <em>C difficile</em> can happen in IBD patients even without taking antibiotics.</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Symptoms include:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003120.htm">Abdominal cramps</a> (mild to severe)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003130.htm">Bloody stools</a></li><li>Fever</li><li>Urge to have a bowel movement</li><li>Watery <a test="test" href="./003126.htm">diarrhea</a> (often 5 to 10 times per day) </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>The following tests may be done:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./003886.htm">Colonoscopy</a> or flexible sigmoidoscopy</li><li>Immunoassay for <a test="test" href="./003590.htm">C difficile toxin</a> in the stool</li><li>Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for <em>C difficile</em> toxin in the stool</li><li>CT scan if complications are suspected</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>The antibiotic or other medicine causing the condition should be stopped. Fidaxomicin and vancomycin are most often used to treat the problem. Metronidazole is also effective, but it is no longer a first line choice in the US.</p><p><a test="test" href="./002350.htm">Electrolyte solutions</a> or fluids given through a vein may be needed to treat dehydration due to diarrhea. In rare cases, surgery is needed to treat infections that get worse or do not respond to antibiotics.</p><p>Long term antibiotics may be needed if the <em>C difficile</em> infection returns. A treatment called fecal microbiota transplant ("stool transplant") has also been effective for infections that come back.</p><p>Your provider may also suggest that you take probiotics if the infection returns.</p><p>An antibody treatment may be needed in patients with very high risk of recurrent <em>C difficile</em> to lessen the risk of recurrence. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p>The outlook is good in most cases, if there are no complications. However, up to 1 in 5 infections may return and need more treatment.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>Complications may include:</p><ul><li>Dehydration with electrolyte imbalance</li><li>Perforation of (hole through) the colon</li><li><a test="test" href="./000248.htm">Toxic megacolon</a></li><li>Death</li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>Contact your provider if you have the following symptoms:</p><ul><li>Any bloody stools (especially after taking antibiotics)</li><li>Five or more episodes of diarrhea per day for more than 1 to 2 days</li><li>Severe abdominal pain</li><li>Signs of dehydration </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Prevention</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>People who have had pseudomembranous colitis should tell their providers before taking antibiotics again. It is also very important to wash hands well to prevent passing the germ to other people. Alcohol sanitizers do not always work on <em>C difficile</em>.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Antibiotic-associated colitis; Colitis - pseudomembranous; Necrotizing colitis; C difficile - pseudomembranous; C diff</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div name="Images" class="section-body" id="section-tnails"><ul class="img-grid group">
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1090t.jpg" alt="Digestive system" title="Digestive system" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1090.htm">Digestive system</a></li>
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/8710t.jpg" alt="Digestive system organs" title="Digestive system organs" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/8710.htm">Digestive system organs</a></li>
|
||
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Gerding DN, Young VB. Donskey CJ. <em>Clostridiodes difficile</em> (formerly <em>Clostridium difficle</em>) infection. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. <em>Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases</em>. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 243.</p><p>Johnson S, Lavergne V, Skinner AM, et al. Clinical practice guideline by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA): 2021 focused update guidelines on management of <em>clostridioides difficile</em> infection in adults. <em>Clin Infect Dis</em>. 2021; 73(5):e1029-e1044. PMID: 34164674 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34164674/" target="_blank">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34164674/</a>.</p><p>Kelly CP, Khanna S. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea and <em>clostridioides difficile</em> infection. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. <em>Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease</em>. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 112.</p><p>Wilcox MH, Dubberke ER. Clostridial and Clostridioides infections. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 271.</p></div></div></section>
|
||
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 5/14/2024</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. </p>
|
||
</div></div></section><section><div class="section ency-citation"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title ency-citation"><div id="citation-how-to"><button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button></div></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Related MedlinePlus Health Topics</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-mtp" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div name="Related MedlinePlus Health Topics" class="section-body" id="section-mtp"><ul class="side-nav"><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/antibiotics.html">Antibiotics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/cdiffinfections.html">C. diff Infections</a></li>
|
||
|
||
</ul></div></div></section></div></div></article>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<footer>
|
||
|
||
<div class="provider-box group">
|
||
<div class="urac-logo">
|
||
<a href="https://accreditnet.urac.org/directory/#/certification/HCP-2/info"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/CertifiedSeal.png"/></a>
|
||
<p class="urac-logo-info">Health Content Provider<br>06/01/2025</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="adam-info">
|
||
<a href='javascript:urac_open();'>A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC</a>, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's <a href='javascript:hwsopen();'>accreditation program</a> is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s <a href='javascript:edpolopen();'>editorial policy, editorial process</a>, and <a href='javascript:ppopen();'>privacy policy</a>. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: <a href='javascript:honc_open();'>verify here</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="adam-info">
|
||
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only – they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997-2025 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
|
||
</p>
|
||
<div class="adam-logo">
|
||
<a href="https://www.adam.com/about" target="_blank"><img width="49" height="10" alt="About A.D.A.M." src="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/ftrAdamlogo.gif"/></a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="mplus-footer">
|
||
<div class="footer1">
|
||
<ul class="secondarynav">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li>
|
||
<li><a name="contact" target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from="><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul class="follow-footer">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a></li>
|
||
<li><span class="follow-label">Follow us</span>
|
||
<a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X"></a>
|
||
<a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook"></a>
|
||
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram"></a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="footer2">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target="_blank">NLM Web Policies</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers & Players</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<div class="address">
|
||
<a href="//www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a>
|
||
<span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span>
|
||
<a href="//www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>
|
||
<a href="//www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div><!-- End Wrap -->
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 9]>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<![endif]-->
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/ency/ency.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html> |