ABSTRACT
Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are a leading cause of antibiotic-associated and nosocomial diarrhea. Despite effective antibiotic treatments, recurrent infections are common. With the recent emergence of hypervirulent isolates of C. difficile, CDI is a growing epidemic with higher rates of recurrence, increasing severity and mortality. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an alternative treatment for recurrent CDI. A better understanding of intestinal microbiota and its role in CDI has opened the door to this promising therapeutic approach. FMT is thought to resolve dysbiosis by restoring gut microbiota diversity thereby breaking the cycle of recurrent CDI. Since the first reported use of FMT for recurrent CDI in 1958, systematic reviews of case series and case report have shown its effectiveness with high resolution rates compared to standard antibiotic treatment. This article focuses on current guidelines for CDI treatment, the role of intestinal microbiota in CDI recurrence and current evidence about FMT efficacy, adverse effects and acceptability.
Subject(s)
Clostridioides difficile/pathogenicity , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/microbiology , Intestines/microbiology , Microbiota , Anti-Bacterial Agents/adverse effects , Biological Therapy/adverse effects , Biological Therapy/methods , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/diagnosis , Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/therapy , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Intestines/drug effects , Microbiota/drug effects , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome , VirulenceABSTRACT
Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) represent 20-30% of diarrhea caused by antibiotics and relapse in more than 25% of cases after treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin. Given the high prevalence of CDI and the significant rate of recurrence despite successful initial treatment, CDI therapy represents a real challenge. A better understanding of the intestinal microbiota and its role in CDI opens the way to promising new therapeutic approaches, such as fecal transplantation. The studies published to date, although few, conclude a certain effectiveness of fecal transplantation in recurrent CDI. Further studies are needed to confirm its effectiveness, determine the long-term consequences as well as good administration practices.
