title: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for Clostridium difficile infection: focus on immunocompromised patients.
abstract: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is an emerging problem worldwide associated with significant morbidity, mortality, recurrence rates and healthcare costs. Immunosuppressed patients, including HIV-seropositive individuals, solid organ transplant recipients, patients with malignancies, hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, and patients with inflammatory bowel disease are increasingly recognized as being at higher risk of developing CDI where it may be associated with significant complications, recurrence, and mortality. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has proven to be an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of recurrent or refractory CDI in immunocompetent patients by restoring the gut microbiota and resistance to further recurrences. During the last two years the first data on FMT in immunocompromised patients began to appear in the medical literature. Herein we summarize the use of FMT for the treatment of CDI with a focus on immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy. Electronic address: stefano932@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gouliouris
authors.affiliation: 2nd Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016360:Clostridioides difficile; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Clostridium difficile; FMT; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Immunocompromised; Microbiota