Bacteriotherapy for the treatment of intestinal dysbiosis caused by Clostridium difficile infection.

Abstract

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used for more than five decades to treat a variety of intestinal diseases associated with pathological imbalances within the resident microbiota, termed dysbiosis. FMT has been particularly effective for treating patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection who are left with few clinical options other than continued antibiotic therapy. Our increasing knowledge of the structure and function of the human intestinal microbiota and C. difficile pathogenesis has led to the understanding that FMT promotes intestinal ecological restoration and highlights the microbiota as a viable therapeutic target. However, the use of undefined faecal samples creates a barrier for widespread clinical use because of safety and aesthetic issues. An emerging concept of bacteriotherapy, the therapeutic use of a defined mixture of harmless, health-associated bacteria, holds promise for the treatment of patients with severe C. difficile infection, and possibly represents a paradigm shift for the treatment of diseases linked to intestinal dysbiosis.

• Authors: Blessing O Adamu, Trevor D Lawley
• Journal: Current opinion in microbiology (Curr Opin Microbiol) Vol. 16 Issue 5 Pg. 596-601 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1879-0364 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23866975 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Biological Therapy (adverse effects, methods)
• Clostridioides difficile (growth & development)
• Clostridium Infections (therapy)
• Dysbiosis (therapy)
• Enteritis (therapy)
• Humans