Faecal bacteriotherapy is a successful and safe therapeutic alternative for recurrent C. difficile infections. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Fecal bacteriotherapy in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection.
Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol. Winter 2018;67(3):104-109. PMID: 30602276
R Stebel
AIM: Using a prospective analysis to assess the success of faecal bacteriotherapy (FBT) in antibiotic-associated colitis due to Clostridium difficile. To analyse whether any of the factors according to which the treated patients can be categorized has a statistically significant effect on the therapeutic outcome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: During the 2-year study period (2015-2016), 71 patients received FBT. After treatment, the patients were followed up by means of clinic visits or by phone. If colitis did not recur within eight weeks of follow-up, the treatment was considered successful.
RESULTS: The overall success rate was 76%, with statistically insignificant decline in recurrences. Subgroup analysis did not show any statistically significant difference in the success rate between the routes of administration, i.e. through a naso-enteral feeding tube and rectal enema. Likewise, there were no statistically significant differences in the success rate between the types of prior antibiotic therapy or between using fresh and cryo-stored stool suspension. No unexpected adverse event or lethality occurred during the study period.
CONCLUSIONS: Faecal bacteriotherapy is a successful and safe therapeutic alternative for recurrent C. difficile infections.