Clostridium difficile colitis presenting as an acute abdomen: Case report and review of the literature

Pseudomembranous colitis associated with Clostridium difficile rarely manifests as an acute abdomen and even more rarely as an acute abdomen without abnormal radiologic studies. The following is a case report of a 52-year-old white man who had an acute abdomen without abnormal radiologic studies, and was given a final diagnosis of C difficile colitis. Surgery was averted only by the ability to do an expeditious flexible sigmoidoscopy with the visualization of pseudomembranes. Diagnosis was later confirmed by a positive toxin assay and culture of C difficile. Treatment for C difficile colitis is usually medical, with oral vancomycin the preferred agent. Surgery may be needed when there is an acute abdomen with other systemic signs (fever or leukocytosis) or abnormal radiologic studies.