Recently, I have learn that some penicillins, fluoroquinolones, lincosamides as in clindamycin, and cephalosporins can lead to Pseudomembranous Colitis, or PMC. According to the Mayo Clinic website, PMC has been directly linked to the preoperative antibiotics.

It is not uncommon for surgical-medical practitioners to prescribe antibiotics such as cephalosporins and clindamycin (and other antibiotics as listed above) before a surgical procedure, as a standardize precaution to help fight off more serious medical postoperative infections. However, what is being discovered is that in some patients, who after taking these listed medications, develop severe, offensive smelling diarrhea, fever and extreme abdominal pain. This iatrogenic infection (literally meaning; *a physician produced disease) of the colon (large intestine) can be fatal if untreated.

PMC infections are caused when doctor-prescribed, antibiotics begin disturbing the homeostasis bacterial balance within the colon. Potent toxins are released when these bacteria become numerous, causing inflammation of your colon. By which, these antibiotics begin to aid in the colonization and growth of Clostridium difficile bacterium. Illness from C. difficile are most common in older adults in hospitals, and/or in long term care facilities. In addition, people suffering with cancer, and currently under chemotherapy treatments can also trigger the development of pseudomembranous colitis.