What is the recommended management for CMV colitis?

The recommended management for cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis is to use intravenous ganciclovir or oral valganciclovir for 21-42 days. This treatment is specifically effective against CMV, a virus that can cause serious gastrointestinal complications, particularly in immunocompromised patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients, or individuals undergoing chemotherapy.

Ganciclovir and its oral prodrug, valganciclovir, are antiviral medications that inhibit viral DNA synthesis, effectively controlling the replication of the virus in the colonic tissues, thereby reducing inflammation and symptoms associated with CMV colitis. The recommended duration of treatment aligns with the typical course required to ensure adequate viral suppression and promote healing in the affected areas.

In contrast, oral foscarnet would not be the first-line treatment for CMV colitis, as it tends to be used in cases of ganciclovir resistance. Acyclovir is more effective against herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus, not CMV, making it an inappropriate choice for this condition. The combination of steroids and antibiotics is not a recommended approach for CMV colitis, as steroids could exacerbate the viral infection rather than treat