Review of the emerging treatment of Clostridium difficile infection with fecal microbiota transplantation and insights into future challenges

Zain Kassam; Christine H Lee; Richard H Hunt

doi:10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.007

Review of the emerging treatment of Clostridium difficile infection with fecal microbiota transplantation and insights into future challenges

Clin Lab Med. 2014 Dec;34(4):787-98. doi: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.007. Epub 2014 Sep 30.

Authors

Zain Kassam¹, Christine H Lee², Richard H Hunt³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 777 Massachusetts Avenue, 56-651, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
² Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada; Hamilton Regional Laboratory Medicine Program, 50 Charlton Avenue, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 4A6, Canada.
³ Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University Health Science Centre, McMaster University, Room 3V3, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada; Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Health Sciences Centre, Rm 3N4, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. Electronic address: huntr@mcmaster.ca.

PMID: 25439277
DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2014.08.007

Abstract

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the most common health care-associated infections in the United States. Currently, there are no standardized methods to prepare or deliver the fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Various methods are used to prepare the FMT, which is usually administered via nasogastric tube, colonoscopy, or by enema. Several clinical trials are underway to assess the true efficacy and safety of FMT for CDI. These trials include CDI studies assessing FMT via colonoscopy and frozen encapsulation, fresh versus frozen-and-thawed FMT by enema, FMT compared with a vancomycin taper, and FMT in the pediatric population.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Health care–associated infections; Treatment.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Clinical Trials as Topic
Clostridioides difficile
Clostridium Infections / therapy*
Feces / microbiology*
Humans
Treatment Outcome