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Case Reports
. 1996 Sep;22(9):990-4.
doi: 10.1007/BF02044130.

Clostridium difficile infection as a cause of severe sepsis

S E Lowenkron  1 , J Waxner, P Khullar, J S Ilowite, M S Niederman, A M Fein
Affiliations
Case Reports

Clostridium difficile infection as a cause of severe sepsis

S E Lowenkron et al. Intensive Care Med. 1996 Sep.

Abstract

Although colitis is often seen in critically all patients who have received multiple broad-spectrum antibiotics, there are no reports describing severe sepsis as a result of Clostridium difficile infection. We describe three cases of severe sepsis with local intestinal Clostridium difficile infection as the only identifiable etiology. The mechanism of severe sepsis may be a derangement of the gastrointestinal barrier function. This could result in absorption of microbes or endotoxin or activation of inflammatory cascades in the submucosa of the intestine or liver.

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