Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Ukrainian

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Fecal microbiota transplant
  3. Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis: the only validated indication
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo
The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Fecal microbiota transplant
  3. Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis: the only validated indication
The power of your gut

Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis: the only validated indication

Fecal transplant
The gut microbiota Fecal transplant

Currently, fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is only indicated for the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infections, but its indications might soon include other diseases where the involvement of the gut microbiota has been confirmed.

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your friends might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail

Sections

About this article

Created 19 December 2019
Updated 29 December 2021

Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis

is the first cause of treatment-related diarrhea and affected over 450,000 Americans in 2011, of which 30,000 died. In France, 1800 deaths were associated to C. difficile infection in 20142. An estimated 5% of overall mortality in hospitalized patients is attributable to this bacterial strain.

Until the 1990s, C. difficile colitis was a relatively rare infection which was not considered a health hazard: an antibiotic treatment was enough to get rid of it. But in a 20-year period, the frequency of this disease more than doubled, while the efficacy of the antibiotics therapy dropped to a 20-30% success rate8,9. The bacterium is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. It was not until the start of the 2000s and the sequencing of C. difficile genome when a particularly virulent strain was identified. It is resistant to antibiotics and able to produce 10 times the amount of toxins usually secreted by this bacterium.

Beware of relapse with repeated antibiotic courses!

Infection generally occurs after the destruction of the gut microbiota by repeated courses of antibiotics. C. difficile, which is present as resting spores in the colon, proliferates and changes to produce toxins that cause inflammation and diarrhea. Paradoxically, this infection is treated with antibiotics, which progressively exacerbate the gut microbiota disruption at each additional treatment course3 thus leading to a 35% rate of relapse2.

FMT should be preferred to antibiotics for recurrent cases

In 1958, the surgeon Ben Eiseman published 4 cases of pseudomembranous colitis that were cured with FMT and sparked interest in this method. Several articles described its efficacy to treat the recurrent form of this disease. But the true turning point came in 2013 with the publication of the first clinical trial in humans. This trial was designed with a robust methodology and demonstrated the therapeutic superiority of FMT over antibiotic therapy to treat recurrent and drugresistant forms of C. difficile infections.

INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT OF C. DIFFICILE INFECTIONS

Following the publication of the Dutch study, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection (ESCMID)10 updated its recommendations and included FMT as a possible treatment for recurrent C. difficile infection.

An isolated severe episode or a first colitis relapse must be treated with oral antibiotics.

Only the second relapse, which characterizes recurrent C. difficile colitis, warrants the use of a stool transplant.

Sources

2 Lagier JC, Raoult D. Fecal microbiota transplantation: indications and perspectives. Med Sci (Paris). 2016 Nov

3 Khoruts A, Sadowski MJ. Understanding the mechanisms of faecal microbiota transplantation. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016 Sep;13(9):508-16.

8 Moayyedi P, et al. Faecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Med J Aust. 2017

9 Wortelboer K, et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation beyond Clostridioides difficile infections. EBioMedicine. 2019 Jun.

10 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1469-0691.12418

Tags
Microbiome Flora

    See also

    Image1_Article5_DTO Fecal transplant: a promising route?
    Actu GP : Mieux définir les banques de selles pour déployer la greffe Improving the definition of stool banks to promote the widespread adoption of FMT
    Focus
    Fecal microbiota transplant
    • What is FMT?
      • The mechanism of FMT: transplanting to restore the balance
      • FMT, in practice: from the donor to the side effects
    • Proven efficacity for a single indication
      • Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis: the only validated indication
    • What about tomorrow
      • Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and FMT
      • Functional gastrointestinal disorders : digestive symptoms
      • Hepatic encephalopathy
      • Metabolic disorders and FMT
      • Expert Interview : Pr Harry Sokol
    Created 19 December 2019
    Updated 29 December 2021

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Fecal transplant

    Related microbiotas

    The gut microbiota

    Related topics

    Fecal transplant
    FMT, in practice: from the donor to the side effects
    Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and FMT
    Focus

    Fecal microbiota transplant

    What is FMT?

    The mechanism of FMT: transplanting to restore the balance FMT, in practice: from the donor to the side effects

    Proven efficacity for a single indication

    Recurrent Clostridium difficile colitis: the only validated indication

    What about tomorrow

    Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases and FMT Functional gastrointestinal disorders : digestive symptoms Hepatic encephalopathy Metabolic disorders and FMT Expert Interview : Pr Harry Sokol
    The power of your gut
    13.05.2025

    When sodas harm your microbiota and your health

    Read the article
    07.05.2025

    Downside of fruit and vegetable juices for gut health

    Read the article
    Allergies : et si tout venait du microbiote ?
    28.03.2023

    Allergies: and what if it all started with the microbiota?

    Read the article
    Photo LP: Sensibles à l’E466 ? Votre microbiote a son mot à dire
    15.04.2025

    Sensitive to E466? Your microbiota plays a role

    Read the article

    Microbiotalk : short conferences on antimicrobial resistance

    Breaking the silence: a global conversation on antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AM...

    Find out more

    Functional dyspepsia

    Despite its strange-sounding name, functional dyspepsia is a common digestive disorder. Characteristi...

    Find out more
    23.04.2024

    Bacterial diarrhea: the only case where antibiotics can be used

    Read the article
    Patients stories - logo
    21.11.2022

    Patients stories: living with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

    Read the article
    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo
    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Ukrainian

    Browse the site

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the microbiota community and receive "The Essentials" once a month to stay up to date with the latest news on the microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    13.05.2025

    When sodas harm your microbiota and your health

    Read the article
    07.05.2025

    Downside of fruit and vegetable juices for gut health

    Read the article
    Photo LP: Sensibles à l’E466 ? Votre microbiote a son mot à dire
    15.04.2025

    Sensitive to E466? Your microbiota plays a role

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community and receive once a month “The Essential” to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    © 2025 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Legal notice
    • GTU
    • Data protection policy
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    • Digital accessibility : partially compliant
    Biocodex logo