title: Fecal microbial therapy: promises and pitfalls.
abstract: A rapidly expanding range of diverse human diseases is now associated with perturbations to the gastrointestinal microbiome. Fecal microbial transplant (FMT) has been used with high rates of efficacy to treat gastrointestinal microbiome perturbation associated with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection, and is now being considered for other indications. Here we discuss the gut microbiome, review published and ongoing studies using FMT as a treatment modality for human disease, consider the regulatory aspects of FMT, and outline some factors that should be considered in patients in whom this therapeutic strategy is being contemplated.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Family Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC †Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merenstein
authors.forename: Najwa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El-Nachef
authors.forename: Susan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Lynch
mesh_terms: D001691:Biological Therapy; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D064806:Dysbiosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*