A patient who has been on antibiotic therapy for several months has been diagnosed with Clostridium difficile. Which of the following should be done to help this patient?
1. Discontinue the antibiotics.
2. Change the antibiotic to penicillin.
3. Change the antibiotic to erythromycin.
4. Instruct the patient to avoid raw fruits and vegetables.
Discontinue the antibiotics.
Rationale: Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic bacterium that occurs as an overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract of patients during or after antibiotic therapy. Treatment includes discontinuing the current antibiotic and beginning Vancomycin or Metronidazole. Penicillin or erythromycin are not indicated in the treatment of Clostridium difficile. Raw fruits and vegetables are implicated as a source for a pseudomonas infection.
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