Stool transplants: ready for prime time?

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of antibiotic- and healthcare-related diarrhea. Predisposing factors for infection include antimicrobial use, exposure to healthcare settings, inflammatory bowel disease, chemotherapy and advanced age, although CDI is now seen in patients without traditional risk factors. The gut microbiome may hold clues to the pathophysiology of CDI and promoting a 'healthy' microbiome has become a focus for CDI therapy. Stool transplant or fecal microbiota transplantation has been shown to be safe and effective for management of recurrent CDI. We offer a protocol for stool transplantation.