Experience with fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection

Introduction: During the past years a dramatic change has been observed in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infections. Aim: The aim of the authors was to investigate the possibility of the fecal microbiota transplantation and study differences, if any, in the success rate of the two different upper gastrointestinal tract method. Method: 100 ml of fecal microbiota solution was instilled via a nasoduodenal tube in 15 cases and a nasogastric tube in 15 cases. The authors defined the primary cure rate as the percentage of cases in which the symptoms disappeared without recurrence within 6 weeks after the first fecal microbiota transplantation, while secondary cure rate was calculated as the percentage of cases in which the symptoms resolved after the second fecal microbiota transplantation. Results: It was found that fecal microbiota transplantation applied via the nasoduodenal tube resulted in a 100% primary cure rate. With the use of the nasogastric tube, the primary and secondary cure rate were 80% and 93.3%, respectively. Fecal microbiota transplantation via the upper gastrointestinal tract was found to have an overall primary cure rate of 90.0% and a secondary cure rate of 96.7%. Conclusions: Fecal microbiota transplantation proved to be very effective, particularly in recurrent infections and cases where conventional treatment failed.