Approach to the patient with infectious colitis: clinical features, work-up and treatment. Issue 1 (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iqbal, Tehseen; DuPont, Herbert L.
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in gastroenterology. Volume 37:Issue 1(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: antibiotics -- bacterial pathogens -- dysentery -- infectious colitis -- multiplex polymerase chain reaction; Gastroenterology -- Periodicals; 616.33
• DOI: 10.1097/MOG.0000000000000693
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-1379

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose of review: To provide the definition, causes, and current recommendations for workup and treatment of acute infectious colitis in adults, a common medical problem of diverse cause. Recent findings: The management of acute colitis in adults depend upon establishment of cause. Most forms of infectious colitis are treatable with antimicrobials. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by guided culture on PCR-positive pathogens can often confirm active infection while standard culture methods provide isolates for antibiotic susceptibility testing, subtyping, and Whole Genome Sequencing. Summary: Patients with colitis may be suffering from a range of etiologies including infectious colitis, neutropenic colitis, drug-induced colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease. The present review was prepared to provide an approach to prompt diagnosis and management of acute colitis to prevent severe complications (e.g. dehydration and malnutrition, or toxic megacolon) and provide recommendations for antimicrobial therapy.