Fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis associated with paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy

Abstract

Resnik E, LeFevre CA. Fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis associated with paclitaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy. Pseudomembranous colitis is commonly associated with the use of antibiotics. Some antineoplastic agents even without associated antibiotic use can predispose patients to developing infection with Clostridium difficile. The infection is usually mild; however, in rare cases severe forms of pseudomembranous colitis may be encountered. A 66 year-old female with stage IIIC suboptimally debulked epithelial ovarian cancer was treated with paclitaxel and carboplatin. the patient developed fulminant C. difficile colitis three weeks after the second cycle of chemotherapy. Severe symptoms began 24 h prior to admission; however, mild nausea and diarrhea had been present for a week despite self-treatment with over-the-counter Imodium and Pepto-Bismol. Her last antibiotic use was seven weeks previously. The patient was hospitalized immediately for aggressive treatment. Notwithstanding all the efforts, her condition continued to deteriorate and she expired. Severe C. difficile colitis can be life threatening. Patients undergoing chemotherapy who develop significant diarrhea should be evaluated for C. difficile. Prompt diagnosis and intervention prior to onset of severe symptoms can potentially improve the outcome.