Antibiotic-associated pseudomembranous colitis.

All antibiotics, except parenteral aminoglycosides, sulfonamides and vancomycin, can induce pseudomembranous colitis. The worst offenders are clindamycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and the cephalosporins. The cytotoxin produced by Clostridium difficile has been identified as the cause of pseudomembranous colitis. Treatment includes an antimicrobial to eradicate the organism and cholestyramine or colestipol to bind the toxin.