Infectious colitis endoscopically simulating inflammatory bowel disease: a prospective evaluation.

This prospective evaluation of patients presenting with mucoid bloody diarrhea and suspected idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease demonstrated a 38% incidence of infectious colitides. The infectious agents detected were Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Amoeba, and Clostridium difficile. An increased awareness and the utilization of selective culture media should allow the clinician to definitively diagnose patients who present with signs and symptoms suggestive of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease.