ANTIBIOTIC-INDUCED COLITIS IMPLICATION OF A TOXIN NEUTRALISED BY CLOSTRIDIUM SORDELLII ANTITOXIN

Abstract

A toxin(s) has been demonstrated in the stools of two patients with antibiotic- associated colitis. This toxin(s) was heat-labile, wasrapidly lethal for hamsters, increased vascular permeability in rabbit skin, and was cytotoxic for cells in tissue-culture. It was neutralised by Clostridium sordellii antitoxin but not by antitoxins prepared against otherclostridia; Escherichia coli, and Vibrio choleroe toxins. These characteristics were identical to those of a toxin implicated in the aetiology of antibiotic-induced colitis in the hamster. One patient improved rapidly after treatment with oral vancomycin, and at the same time the toxin disappeared from the stool.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22808/1/0000365.pd