Fecal Transplant for Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection

Abstract This chapter examines the use of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). A 2013 study compared FMT, where donor feces are infused through a nasoduodenal tube, with oral vancomycin treatment. The study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in the number of cured patients without relapse at ten weeks between FMT and vancomycin. This was particularly visible for patients with multiple CDI recurrences. Despite some adverse events like diarrhea and cramping, FMT seemed to offer a promising alternative for patients who fail standard therapies. However, as the chapter emphasizes, while FMT shows potential, concerns about pathogen transmission and its investigational status require careful patient selection and informed consent.