Death from pseudomembranous enterocolitis.

During the past 2 years at the Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center (LAC-USC), there have been 2 deaths from pseudomembranous enterocolitis. Each of these deaths occurred postoperatively in previously healthy women who received pronlonged antibiotic prophylasix. The implications of these poor therapeutic results are discussed. The distinctive clinical symptology of a patient with pseudomembranous enterocolitis is described, and current treatment recommendiations are presented.