Fecal microbiota transplantation refers to the infusion of a suspension of fecal matter from a healthy individual into the GI tract of another person to cure a specific disease. FMT has received public attention recently with the publication of several studies showing that stool is a biologically active, complex mixture of living organisms with great therapeutic potential for Clostridium difficile infection and perhaps other GI and non-GI disorders. C. difficile is a bacterium recognized as the major causative agent of colitis (inflammation of the colon) and diarrhea that may occur following antibiotic intake. The disruption of the normal balance of colonic microbiota as a consequence of antibiotic use or other stresses can result in C. difficile infection.
The mammalian colon is home to a microbial ecosystem that enhances resistance to infection, stimulates mucosal immune defenses, synthesizes essential vitamins, and promotes caloric uptake by hydrolyzing complex carbohydrates. The bacterial populations inhabiting the gut are complex and vary between different individuals. Clinical and experimental studies reveal that the colonic microbiota can enhance or ameliorate intestinal and systemic inflammatory diseases. Because of its potential to enhance resistance to infection and to reduce inflammatory diseases, targeted manipulation of microbial populations is a growing focus of investigation. The most dramatic manipulation of the intestinal microbiota involves fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from healthy donors to individuals with specific diseases. Remarkable clinical effectiveness of FMT has been demonstrated for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection and ongoing studies are investigating FMT for other diseases. Transplantation of complex microbial populations to recipients likely triggers mucosal immune responses that, depending on the microbiota composition and the recipientās genotype, could range from pro- to anti-inflammatory. The impact of FMT on the recipient immune system is complex and unpredictable. Ongoing discovery of commensal microbes and investigations of their impact on the host will lead to the development of new probiotic agents and microbial consortia that will eventually replace FMT.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) infection, with very early experience suggesting that it may also play a role in treating other gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI diseases.Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) re-establishes a balanced intestinal flora with resultant cure of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI). FMT has also been used to treat other gastrointestinal (GI) diseases including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic constipation and a variety of non-GI disorders.
FMT involves restoration of the colonic flora by introducing healthy bacterial flora through infusion of stool, e.g. by enema, obtained from a healthy human donor.
Infusion of feces from healthy donors was demonstrated in a randomized, controlled trial to be highly effective in treating recurrent C. difficile, and more effective than vancomycin alone.It can also be used to treat other conditions, including colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and some neurological conditions.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491681/
http://www.openbiome.org/about-fmt/
