Diarrhea and colitis associated with antimicrobial therapy in man and animals.

Antimicrobial agent-induced ileocecitis of laboratory animals and colitis of man share common features. The significance of a newly described toxin in these two entities, the apparent source of the toxin (Clostridium difficile) and characteristics of the toxin are reviewed. Methods of toxin detection, isolation and rapid identification of C. difficile, and possible modes of therapy for antimicrobial agent-associated colitis of man are discussed.