Ethical Considerations in Microbial Therapeutic Clinical Trials

New Bioeth. 2017 Nov;23(3):210-218. doi: 10.1080/20502877.2017.1387386. Epub 2017 Oct 17.

Abstract

As understanding of the human microbiome improves, novel therapeutic targets to improve human health with microbial therapeutics will continue to expand. We outline key considerations of balancing risks and benefits, optimising access, returning key results to research participants, and potential conflicts of interest.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; FMT; ethics; fecal microbiota transplant; microbiome; recurrent Clostridium difficile.

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic / ethics*
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy*
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / ethics*
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Humans