The American Gastroenterological Association recently issued guidance on using fecal microbiota therapy to treat stubborn Clostridioides difficile gut infections. C. diff causes severe diarrhea and colon inflammation, sickening nearly half a million Americans yearly.
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While antibiotics often knock out C. diff, it comes back over and over in some patients when antibiotics stop. The gastro group suggests carefully selected patients try fecal transplants or new fecal bacteria pills and solutions. The goal is to repopulate the colon with healthy gut bacteria. Studies show these gut bacteria therapies prevent C. diff recurrence about 3 out of 4 times – far better than just antibiotics.
But evidence is still limited if fecal transplants improve patients’ quality of life day-to-day. It’s also unclear if pills or solutions work better. More research is needed.
The guidance also warns against using fecal transplants for other gut disorders like inflammatory bowel disease until more safety and effectiveness data emerges.
In summary, fecal microbiota transplants look promising against stubborn C. diff infections for some patients. But more studies are still needed to determine which patients benefit most and optimize procedures.
