Serious intestinal infections can be treated through fecal transplants made from donors, a new study has revealed.
Clostridium Difficile is a gut infection that results in severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The disease is known to kill thousands of people on an annual basis, where the good bacteria located in the gut becomes overwhelmed due to the infection. Over time, it prevents the individual from leading a healthy lifestyle.
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Scientists then decided to try fecal transplants in patients who were suffering from repeat infections.
The process involves collecting stool sample from a donor which is then purified and mixed in a solution of saline. This is then transferred to the afflicted patient through colonoscopy.
The study involved a total of 14 patients, 4 of whom received fecal transplants.
The patients who received the transplants, were found to be experiencing healthy changes in bacterial populations of their intestines for upto 21 weeks following the transplant.
Director of the University of Minnesota's BioTechnology Institute and author of the study Michael Sadowsky said in the news release, "Our study shows that there are both short- and long-term changes in the fecal microbiome following transplantation."
He added, "The diversity and types of microbes present fall into a cloud of possibilities represented by those of 'normal fecal microbiota.' While we have many similarities in fecal microbiota amongst humans in general, there are individual differences that make us all unique, but do not affect apparent gut functioning."
Since the FDA considers fecal transplants to be a kind of a drug, the scientists feel standardization is very important.
While the long term stability of the transplants are yet to be determined, scientists are hopeful the treatment can provide adequate relief to people.
Clostridium Difficile is a gut infection that results in severe abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The disease is known to kill thousands of people on an annual basis, where the good bacteria located in the gut becomes overwhelmed due to the infection. Over time, it prevents the individual from leading a healthy lifestyle.
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Scientists then decided to try fecal transplants in patients who were suffering from repeat infections.
The process involves collecting stool sample from a donor which is then purified and mixed in a solution of saline. This is then transferred to the afflicted patient through colonoscopy.
The study involved a total of 14 patients, 4 of whom received fecal transplants.
The patients who received the transplants, were found to be experiencing healthy changes in bacterial populations of their intestines for upto 21 weeks following the transplant.
Director of the University of Minnesota's BioTechnology Institute and author of the study Michael Sadowsky said in the news release, "Our study shows that there are both short- and long-term changes in the fecal microbiome following transplantation."
He added, "The diversity and types of microbes present fall into a cloud of possibilities represented by those of 'normal fecal microbiota.' While we have many similarities in fecal microbiota amongst humans in general, there are individual differences that make us all unique, but do not affect apparent gut functioning."
Since the FDA considers fecal transplants to be a kind of a drug, the scientists feel standardization is very important.
While the long term stability of the transplants are yet to be determined, scientists are hopeful the treatment can provide adequate relief to people.
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