Fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile infection: back to the future

Expert Opin Biol Ther. 2015 Jul;15(7):1001-14. doi: 10.1517/14712598.2015.1045872.

Abstract

Introduction: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of diarrhea in the industrialized world. The estimated costs of this infection are impressive: over 3.2 billion dollars annually in the US. The introduction of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to clinical practice can be considered a Copernican Revolution. The rationale of this approach consists of correcting the imbalance of the organisms dwelling in the gut by reintroducing a normal flora.

Areas covered: This review focuses on the indication for FMT in CDI; it examines in-depth the most relevant aspects of the techniques used, and the safety and efficacy of this new 'old' therapy.

Expert opinion: Authoritative guidelines about the management of CDI strongly recommend FMT for multiple recurrent episodes of infection by C. difficile unresponsive to repeated antibiotic treatment. The cure rates are about 90%, with no serious adverse events having been reported. The main concerns are the long-term outcomes, lack of a standardized procedure for the delivery of donor material, and a cultural barrier to the transplantation of fecal microbiota. A promising solution to some of these problems could be the use of a more acceptable administration route of fecal material, namely, oral capsules.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile infection; antibiotics; diarrhea; dysbiosis; feces; gut; microbiota; recurrence.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Clostridioides difficile / isolation & purification
  • Clostridioides difficile / physiology
  • Clostridium Infections / microbiology
  • Clostridium Infections / physiopathology
  • Clostridium Infections / therapy*
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome
  • Humans
  • Recurrence