quote:

Clindamycin may cause colitis, an infection of the colon that can be dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking clindamycin or within a few weeks of stopping clindamycin, call your doctor immediately: severe persistent diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, or bloody stool. Talk to your doctor about the risk of taking clindamycin.

quote:

What is Clostridium difficile?

C. difficile is a spore forming bacteria which can be part of the normal intestinal flora in as many as 50% of children under age two, and less frequently in individuals over two years of age. C. difficile is the major cause of pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic associated diarrhea.

What are the risk factors for C. difficile-associated disease?

C. difficile-associated disease occurs when the normal intestinal flora is altered, allowing C. difficile to flourish in the intestinal tract and produce a toxin that causes a watery diarrhea. Repeated enemas, prolonged nasogastric tube insertion and gastrointestinal tract surgery increase a person's risk of developing the disease. The overuse of antibiotics, especially penicillin (ampicillin), clindamycin and cephalosporins may also alter the normal intestinal flora and increase the risk of developing C. difficile diarrhea.

What are the symptoms of C. difficile-associated disease?

Mild cases of C. difficile disease are characterized by frequent, foul smelling, watery stools. More severe symptoms, indicative of pseudomembranous colitis, include diarrhea that contains blood and mucous, and abdominal cramps. An abnormal heart rhythm may also occur.