Fecal transplantation through colonoscopy may be an effective treatment for recurrent C. difficile infections, according to research published in Gastroenterology.
For this study, researchers reviewed cases of 70 patients with recurrent C. difficile who underwent fecal transplantation. Within 12 weeks after transplantation, symptoms subsided in all but four patients with 027 C. difficile infection. These four patients displayed a pre-existing serious condition and subsequently died of colitis.
In addition, four patients had an infectious relapse one year after transplantation, two of whom were treated successfully with another fecal transplantation and two of whom were treated with antibiotics. The researchers did not observe any immediate complications following the transplantations.
For this study, researchers reviewed cases of 70 patients with recurrent C. difficile who underwent fecal transplantation. Within 12 weeks after transplantation, symptoms subsided in all but four patients with 027 C. difficile infection. These four patients displayed a pre-existing serious condition and subsequently died of colitis.
In addition, four patients had an infectious relapse one year after transplantation, two of whom were treated successfully with another fecal transplantation and two of whom were treated with antibiotics. The researchers did not observe any immediate complications following the transplantations.
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