Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is an inflammatory bowel disorder caused by Clostridium difficile toxins. Classical presentation includes abdominal pain, pyrexia, diarrhoea and leucocytes. The management is mainly conservative but in extreme cases surgery is necessary. Resectional procedures (colectomy) carry a better prognosis than diversion procedures (colostomy). A careful history, a high ind...

LY146032, an acidic lipopeptide antibiotic which inhibits the biosynthesis of cell wall peptidoglycan, was found to be effective in delaying death in a hamster model of pseudomembranous colitis. A dose of 0.05 mg/day was effective. The equivalent protection with vancomycin required a dose 100-fold higher, i.e., 5 mg/day.