American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Criteria for the Grading of Infectious Colitis

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) reported grading criteria for infectious colitis.

Patient selection: infectious colitis

Clinical presentation: abdominal pain, diarrhea, positive toxin assay or stool culture

Parameters:

(1) change in the colon wall

(2) clinical findings

Change in the Colon Wall	Additional Clinical Findings	Grade
mucosal disease	inflamed mucosa on colonoscopy, normal CT	I
thickening of the wall with pseudomembrane	localized colon wall thickening on CT	II
thickening of the wall with ascites, diffuse colon dilation or confluent pseudomembranes	diffuse colon wall thickening; free intra-abdominal fluid	III
localized necrosis with or without perforation	colon wall thickening with free fluid; evidence of perforation and/or abscess	IV
diffuse transmural necrosis with or without perforation	colon wall thickening with free fluid; evidence of perforation and/or abscess	V

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