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Updated: May 13, 2026
07:06
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
Fecal transplant in refractory Clostridium difficile colitis
Alexander Kleger1, Jacqueline Schnell, Andreas Essig
1Ulm University Hospital Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine I, Germany.
Deutsches Arzteblatt International
|March 8, 2013
Summary
Fecal transplantation successfully treated recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in a patient. This procedure offers a safe and effective alternative for managing difficult enterocolitis cases when antibiotics fail.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) are increasing in severity and recurrence rates.
- Antibiotic therapy for CDI often proves ineffective, with high rates of relapse.
- Probiotics offer inconsistent benefits for restoring gut flora in CDI patients.
Observation:
- A 73-year-old woman experienced intractable, recurrent enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile.
- Conventional antibiotic treatments failed to resolve the patient's condition.
- Fecal transplantation via colonoscopy was performed using screened donor stool.
Findings:
- The patient achieved a lasting remission of Clostridium difficile enterocolitis post-transplantation.
- No adverse effects were observed following the fecal microbiota transplantation.
- Microbiological and clinical evidence confirmed no recurrence for at least six months.
Implications:
- Fecal transplantation demonstrates significant promise as a safe and effective treatment for recurrent CDI.
- This case highlights the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation in managing refractory enterocolitis.
- Further research is needed to ascertain the role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in conjunction with fecal transplants.
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