Severe Clostridium difficile-associated colitis in young patients with cystic fibrosis

We report four patients with cystic fibrosis and fulminant Clostridium difficile-associated colitis: two died, and one required hemicolectomy. Three of four patients carried the N1303K mutation. Severe and fatal C.difficile colitis can occur in cystic fibrosis patients, possibly with a genotype-specific predilection (i.e., N13O3K/other). Because cystic fibrosis patients may have a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal symptoms, disease caused by C.difficile must be considered when these patients have acute abdominal pain, diarrhea, or severe leukocytosis.