Complications with antibiotics used prophylactically in joint replacement surgery: a case report of cephradine-induced pseudomembranous colitis.

A woman underwent joint replacement surgery with prophylactic antibiotic cover, and subsequently died as a result of pseudomembranous colitis. We have noted a high incidence of antibiotic diarrhoea with cephradine, and suggest that if administration of prophylactic antibiotics is restricted to 3 days or less, the incidence of diarrhoea would diminish, and the therapeutic value of the antibiotics would be maintained.