Continuous Administration of Vancomycin through a Long Intestinal Tube for Clostridium difficile Infection

Intern Med. 2015;54(12):1559-62. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.54.4026. Epub 2015 Jun 15.

Abstract

A 76-year-old previously healthy Japanese man experienced severe diarrhea (8,000 mL per day) after undergoing laparotomy for small bowel obstruction and was diagnosed with Clostridium difficile infection. Although he developed a maculopapular rash secondary to the systemic absorption of enteral vancomycin (VCM), the patient was successfully treated with the continuous administration of VCM through a long intestinal tube placed in the terminal ileum. This method ensured the reliable delivery of VCM to the colon, while the continuous administration maintained high fecal levels of the drug. This treatment approach is an effective minimally invasive option for patients with severe diarrhea.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Rectal
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Asian People
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification*
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / drug therapy*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vancomycin / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Vancomycin