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Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation via Colonoscopy for Recurrent C. difficile Infection
Published on: December 8, 2014
Treatment of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Diarrhea
Elizabeth S Huebner1, Christina M Surawicz1
1Dr. Huebner is a Fellow in the Division of Gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, where Dr. Surawicz is Professor of Medicine, Section Chief in Gastroenterology at the Harborview Medical Center, and Assistant Dean for Faculty Development.
Abstract:
Treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea can be challenging. Once patients develop recurrent disease, further episodes are common and can continue for months or even a year or more. Treatment begins with a repeat standard 10-day course of antibiotics, followed by tapering and/or pulsing of the antibiotic dose. Probiotics can also be useful, particularly the nonpathogenic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii. Stool reconstitution via fecal enemas, colonoscopy, and nasogastric tubes have been performed to restore normal colonic flora. Additional approaches under investigation, such as vaccination against C. difficile, show encouraging preliminary results.
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