Final answer:
Pseudomembranous colitis or Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea can occur due to conditions such as systemic disorders, immunosuppressive treatments, and prolonged critical illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) or Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) can occur due to various conditions that place patients at risk. These conditions include:
- Systemic disorders: Patients with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, hepatitis, or HIV infection.
- Immunosuppressive treatments: Patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy, bone marrow ablation before transplantation, or radiation therapy.
- Prolonged critical illness: Patients who are very young, elderly, or hospitalized due to infection, surgery, or trauma.
Other infections or conditions that may be responsible include contact dermatitis, delayed-type hypersensitivity, and health care-associated pneumonia.