Mark Bundschuh, MD
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mark Bundschuh, MD, Stephanie Moleski, MD
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Introduction: Clostridium difficile enteritis (CDE) is rare, but is increasingly diagnosed among those who have undergone colectomy. After colectomy, colonic-type bacterial flora including Clostridium difficile are able to colonize, and under the right circumstances, infect the small bowel. The reported mortality of CDE is high, likely due in part to the emergence of a virulent strain of Clostridium difficile, NAP1/BI/027. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for CDE, particularly among patients with antibiotic exposure after colectomy.
Case Description/Methods: A 50-year-old-woman with a previous history of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and colonic inertia status post total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis three months prior presented with waves of left lower quadrant abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting. In the three weeks prior to admission, she completed courses of Amoxicillin and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for UTI. CT abdomen/pelvis with contrast showed 20 cm of circumferential thickening of the distal small bowel with associated free fluid and mesenteric inflammation proximal to unaffected ileorectal anastomosis. Laboratory evaluation was notable only for mild leukocytosis (12,000 cells/µL) with no bands. On admission, the patient had a nasogastric (NG) tube placed for abdominal decompression. A Bisacodyl suppository was prescribed, and the patient had a bowel movement that resulted positive for Clostridium difficile toxin DNA PCR. The patient was diagnosed with CDE. She was initially started on NG Vancomycin 150 mg every 6 hours for a first recurrence of CDI, which was then escalated to 500 mg every 6 hours with the addition of IV Metronidazole. This resulted in resolution of symptoms and ileus.
Discussion: Our patient had several CDE risk factors including a prior history of colectomy and recent antibiotic exposure. In addition to CDE risk factors, our patient also had two CDI risk factors - chronic acid suppression and previous history of CDI. Additional research is needed to determine if other typical CDI risk factors also play a role in the development of CDE. In patients with altered gastrointestinal anatomy or obstruction, it may be challenging to confirm the diagnosis using stool-based PCR toxin studies. Abdominal CT scan may be helpful in making the diagnosis. Much like our patient, previous studies have demonstrated circumferential edema and mesenteric stranding of the small bowel as common radiologic features of CDE.
Citation: Mark Bundschuh, MD, Stephanie Moleski, MD. P1737 - A TYPICAL PRESENTATION OF A RARE DISEASE: CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE ENTERITIS AFTER TOTAL ABDOMINAL COLECTOMY. Program No. P1737. ACG 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. San Antonio, Texas: American College of Gastroenterology.