Managing Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea is a common side effect of antibiotic use, characterized by loose or watery stools caused by disruption of the gut microbiota balance.

Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea FAQ

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What is antibiotic-associated diarrhea?

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea refers to passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day after taking medications used to treat bacterial infections (antibiotics). About 1 in 5 people who take antibiotics develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Most often, antibiotic-associated diarrhea is mild and requires no treatment.

Can antibiotics cause diarrhea?

C. difficile bacteria create toxins that attack the lining of the intestine. The antibiotics most commonly linked to C. difficile infection include clindamycin, fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and penicillins — though taking virtually any antibiotic can put you at risk. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea can occur in anyone who takes an antibiotic.

What are the clinical presentations of antibiotic associated diarrhoea?

Clinical presentations of antibiotic associated diarrhoea range from mild diarrhoea to fulminant pseudomembranous colitis. The latter is characterised by a watery diarrhoea, fever (in 80% of cases), leucocytosis (80%), and the presence of pseudomembranes on endoscopic examination.