Clindamycin-associated colitis. Review of the clinical spectrum of 47 cases.

A review of 47 cases of clindamycin-associated colitis demonstrates two groups of patients. Group I includes patients who developed diarrhea and colitis while they were still receiving clindamycin and the antibiotic was immediately stopped. Group II includes patients who developed diarrhea and colitis either after a complete course of antibiotics had been given, or while they continued to receive clindamycin. It is in this latter group of patients that significant morbidity and occasional mortality occurs.