The definition of antibiotic-associated diarrhea has two criteria. First diarrhea occurs after using antibiotics. Second, the diarrhea is actually related with the antibiotics. It is a common adverse drug reaction. Currently, more than 700 drugs are known to cause diarrhea and around 25% of them are antibiotics. Common drugs include lincomycin, azithromycin, ampicillin and cephalosporin family drugs. If patients have diarrhea while using antibiotics, antibiotic-associated diarrhea should be suspected. If diarrhea is the only symptom, the symptom will improve when the antibiotic in question is stopped. Pseudomembranous colitis patients usually have severe symptoms. If antibiotics are continued, the symptoms will get worse and patients may even die. Treatment: stop the suspicious antibiotics immediately, treat symptoms, correct the low albumin blood, and restore water, electrolyte and acid-base balance.
How is Antibiotic associated diarrhea treated in practice?