CKS is no longer commissioned by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE remains committed to providing a replacement service for CKS and is currently reviewing its options. In the meantime, although CKS content is now not being maintained, it still remains relevant and will continue to be made available. CKS content was generated under a programme of topic creation and update. To check if the topic you are viewing is current or out of date, please refer to the topic publication details by clicking on the 'How up-to-date is this topic?' link in the left hand menu on individual topic pages.
Diarrhoea - antibiotic associated - Management
Basis for recommendation
These recommendations are based on guidance issued by the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency (HPA) on managing Clostridium difficile infection, and from expert reviews on managing antibiotic-associated diarrhoea [Bartlett, 2002; Tonna and Welsby, 2005; Aronson, 2006; DH and HPA, 2008; Williams and Spencer, 2009].
Stopping the antibiotic
- The Department of Health and HPA recommend that, if possible, antibiotic treatment should be stopped for people with suspected C. difficile infection to allow normal intestinal flora to be re-established [DH and HPA, 2008].
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea without C. difficile infection will resolve on discontinuation of the antibiotic [Bartlett, 2002; Tonna and Welsby, 2005; Aronson, 2006].
Antimotility drugs
- CKS does not recommend the use of antimotility drugs in people with suspected C. difficile infection because there is a lack of evidence to support their use and there are concerns about possible adverse effects (for example toxic megacolon). For further information, see Known C. difficile test result.
© NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement