Bacteriology

Bacteriology

A stool specimen should be sent for microbiological analysis when UC is suspected in order to exclude infective colitides, notably Campylobacter , which may be very di ffi cult to distin - guish from acute severe UC. Clostridium di ffi cile colitis may need to be considered in populations at risk of this disease (see Chapter 77 ). Cytomegalovirus infection is a major patho - gen in immunocompromised patients and can be di ffi cult to distinguish from UC. Superimposed infection may precipitate fulminant colitis.