How is C. difficile colitis treated?
Treatment of C. difficile colitis includes: • correction of dehydration and electrolyte (mineral) deficiencies, • discontinuing the antibiotic that caused the colitis, and • using antibiotics to eradicate the C. difficile bacterium. In patients with mild colitis, stopping the antibiotic that caused the infection may be enough to cause the colitis and diarrhea to subside. In most cases, however, antibiotics are needed to eradicate the C. difficile bacteria. Antibiotics that are effective against C. difficile include metronidazole (Flagyl), and vancomycin (Vancocin). These two antibiotics usually are taken orally for 10 days. Both antibiotics are equally effective. With either antibiotic, fever usually will resolve in one or two days, and diarrhea in three or four days. The choice of which antibiotic to use depends on the individual patient’s situation and the preferences of the treating doctor. Some doctors will prescribe metronidazole first because it is much cheaper than vancomycin. V
