Factors of development of pseudomembranous colitis and its treatment

What is pseudomembranous colitis? This question is asked by many people who face such a diagnosis.

If you want to know about the causes of this disease and its symptoms, as well as how to properly treat it, then read this article.

More on pseudomembranous colitis

Pseudomembranous colitis is a pathology that develops as a result of taking antibiotics. For colitis of this type is characterized by a serious dysbiosis, which can become the initiator of inflammation of the intestinal mucosa.

In the absence of timely treatment in patients, the development of pathology is noted: the appearance of fibrinous plaque on the walls of the intestine.

All these factors lead to acute intoxication of the body, its dehydration and the occurrence of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract.

As mentioned above, the cause of colitis of this type is long-term therapy with powerful antibiotics.

The following drugs are considered the most harmful among them, which are prescribed for the control of many types of infections: "Lincomycin", "Clindamycin", "Ampicillin", "Penicillin", "Cephalosporin", "Tetracycline", "Levomycetin", "Erythromycin" andEtc.

Recently, studies have been carried out proving that some medications with cytostatic action( antitumor drugs that promote necrosis of malignant tumors) and several well-known drugs can provoke pseudomembranous colitisLaxatives.

All these drugs suppress the activity of a potentially useful bacterial mass contained in the intestine.

Studies show that with such an inhibition, the intestinal dysbacteriosis takes on a special form, characterized by an increased content of a microorganism such as Clostridium difficile.

This bacterium is pathogenic and produces toxins that destroy the intestinal mucosa.

The reason for the development of pseudomembranous colitis can be both oral antibiotic treatment and injection therapy with antibiotics.

In the group at risk of the emergence of pathology are infants, elderly people and patients suffering from oncology and kidney failure.

Pseudomembranous colitis can also occur in people who have undergone extensive surgical interventions in the recent past.

Symptoms of a specific colitis:

1. watery stools are white( sometimes with a trace of blood);
2. dehydration( muscle lethargy, paresthesia, drowsiness, tachycardia, seizures, dry skin);
3. strongest intoxication( headaches and muscle pains, refusal to eat, fever);
4. severe pain, having a cramping character and localized in the large intestine.

Pseudomembranous colitis requires immediate treatment. Acute forms of this disease can lead to death.

Diagnosis of a specific colitis and possible complications

Treatment of pseudomembranous colitis is a long process. To understand, from what form of pathology the patient suffers, it is necessary to investigate the etiology of the disease and to conduct a number of diagnostic procedures.

To clarify the presence of such a disease as pseudomembranous colitis, an overall blood test that will indicate leukocytosis will help.

Blood and appearance of the stool can also report the presence of this form of the disease. In addition to the general analysis of excrement, a bacteriological study should be carried out, which will bring final clarity to the clinical picture.

If the stool is saturated with Clostridium difficile, as well as the products of vital activity of these bacteria, which have toxic effects, then the diagnosis of "pseudomembranous colitis" is set in a hundred percent of cases.

In some cases endoscopic examination of the walls of the intestinal system or sigmoidoscopy is prescribed to clarify the pathology.

Neutralization of the symptoms of this disease will help special treatment, as well as a specific diet prescribed by the doctor.

If you do not adhere to the recommendations of the gastroenterologist, you can allow the development of complications that can cause serious harm to the body.

Common complications of pseudomembranous colitis are perforation of intestinal mucous membranes, as well as toxic expansion of the intestine.

Clinical symptoms indicative of the activation of complications:

• hyperthermia( from 39 degrees Celsius);
• loss of coordination, weakness, refusal to eat;
• rare stool.

Treatment of complications is a serious procedure. To level out their harm and to soften the newly acquired symptoms, hospitalization is required.

Toxic enlargement of the intestine can provoke severe sepsis, which will quickly spread to the entire abdominal area. Emergency surgical intervention is the only way to save the patient's life.

Perforation of intestinal mucous membranes can trigger the development of pancreatitis, which will adversely affect the patient's health.

In the presence of such complications, a cavity procedure is required, during which surgeons remove dead parts of mucous membranes and intestinal gut ruptures.

How to treat colitis with a pseudomembranous type?

Doctors specializing in the study of the etiology of pseudomembranous colitis believe that patients suffering from this pathology should receive etiotropic treatment.

It consists in the destruction of the population of Clostridium difficile in the intestinal system. Treatment of the disease involves taking medications enriched with vancomycin and metronidazole.

To get rid of a dysbacteriosis, provoked by a long reception of antibiotic drugs, you can use probiotics - "Colibacterin", "Bifikola" or "Bifidumbacterin".

Treatment with such medicines should be carried out throughout the month. Strengthen their action can a specialized diet prescribed by doctors.

To remove the symptoms of pseudomembranous colitis mentioned in the first paragraph of the article, pathogenetic treatment will help: getting rid of dehydration, harmonization of protein and electrolyte metabolism, as well as detoxification of the body.

To remove symptoms of dehydration( dehydration) will allow intravenous administration of special agents, such as Hartmann's solution or "Lactasol".

The protein losses can be compensated with the introduction of a solution of "albumin".

Drugs enriched with potassium chloride are prescribed for balancing the electrolyte balance. Detoxication of the body is carried out with the help of "Cholestyramine".

If the course of the disease is complicated by additional pathologies that have developed from improper or untimely treatment, the patient suffering from pseudomembranous colitis is shown to have surgical intervention.

As a rule, it is an operation such as a colectomy performed to remove part of the large intestine.

Unfortunately, drug treatment of the disease is effective only in seventy percent of cases.

Patients who do not fall in this number are referred to hospitals for the re-treatment of pseudomembranous colitis.

Relapses of pathology occur when a specialized diet recommended by doctors is not followed, and when the pathogen of the pathogenic microorganism Clostridium difficile can not be completely eliminated.

Treatment of recurrence of the disease consists of the same stages. However, it should be noted that ten percent of people suffering from a recurrence of pathology, develop resistance to drugs, which prevents complete cure.

In this case, the disease becomes chronic and requires regular supervision of doctors.

In other cases, the prognosis for membranous colitis is positive. Diet, appointed after intensive treatment, allows patients who have suffered a pathological process to forget about its presence.

Health food and prevention

A diet with colitis pseudomembranous type will mitigate the symptoms of the disease and normalize the work of the damaged intestine.

The first few days after the detection of pathology, you should completely refrain from eating.

This "hungry" diet allows you to drink only teas, boiled cold water and broth of wild rose.

After the expiration of two to three days in the diet of the patient should be introduced kefir, jelly, cooked without sugar, cottage cheese in a grinded form.

Advanced dietary advice contains a therapeutic diet No. 4( A), designed specifically for people suffering from enterocolitis.

Diet in colitis pseudomembranous type implies a complete rejection of the following foods and drinks:

• smoked foods and fatty foods;
• pickles and other preserves;
• baking and sweets;
• spices and salt;
• alcohol, coffee and carbonated water.

A diet prescribed by doctors should be followed for a long period. Restoring damaged gastric mucosa is a long process.

Prevention of pseudomembranous colitis involves a number of necessary measures.

If treatment of any pathology involves taking antibiotics, then such therapy must necessarily be combined with the use of probiotic drugs that prevent the emergence of dysbiosis.

People who are in direct contact with a person suffering from this disease should strengthen hygiene measures and take it as a rule not to use utensils from which the patient eats and drinks.

Clostridium difficile spores are highly volatile. Once in the body of a person at risk of disease, they will trigger the development of a specific colitis.

After reading this article, you could learn about a disease such as pseudomembranous colitis.

Observe precautionary measures when contacting pathogen-bearing patients - and take antibiotic medications strictly under the supervision of a doctor, never self-medication.

Stay healthy!