Researchers Say Fecal Transplantation is Effective New Treatment Option for Clostridium Difficile
Posted on March 14, 2012
A new study, published here in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association, says fecal transplantation through colonoscopy is an effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). CDI is a common cause of both community- and hospital-acquired diarrhea. CDI has become more frequent, more severe, more resistent to standard treatment, and more likely to relapse over the past few years.
Eero Mattila, MD, of Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland, and lead author of this study, says, "Our results suggest that fecal transplantation is clearly better than any other treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. Although fecal transplantation is not simple to perform and it has potential risks, it is an effective option."
In the study, researchers reviewed records from 70 patients - across five hospitals - with recurrent CDI who had undergone fecal transplantation through colonoscopy. Donor stool was manually homogenized before transplantation, and fecal transplantation was performed during a colonoscopy by infusing fresh donor feces into the cecum. During the first 12 weeks after fecal transplantation, symptoms were alleviated in all patients who did not have the dangerous Clostridium difficile 027 strain. Of the 36 patients with the 027 strain, 89% had a favorable response. The study also found that after the initial 12 weeks of follow-up, no serious adverse events related to fecal transplantation could be observed during a one-year period.