title: Fecal microbiota transplant to treat recurrent Clostridium difficile infections.
abstract: The prevalence of recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infection has been steadily increasing since 2000. Consequently, alternative treatments to the standard antibiotic therapies are now being considered. One alternative treatment is fecal microbiota transplant. Although fecal microbiota transplant is relatively new--and not appealing to most people--it has been around for many years and has great promise as an inexpensive, safe, and efficient treatment of refractory and recurrent C difficile infection. With a better understanding of the intricacies of the colonic microbiome and its role in colonic physiology and pathophysiology, critical care nurses will recognize that fecal microbiota transplant has the potential to become the standard of care for treatment of recurrent or refractory C difficile infection. The American College of Gastroenterology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America provide the latest treatment guidelines for care of patients with these clostridial infections.
authors.affiliation: Lisa Ruth-Sahd is an associate professor of nursing at York College of Pennsylvania. She is also a nurse extern coordinator at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.Zehao Zhou is an assistant professor and information services librarian of Schmidt Library, York College of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Miriam L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Lisa Ruth-Sahd is an associate professor of nursing at York College of Pennsylvania. She is also a nurse extern coordinator at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.Zehao Zhou is an assistant professor and information services librarian of Schmidt Library, York College of Pennsylvania. lsahd@ycp.edu.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ruth-Sahd
authors.affiliation: Lisa Ruth-Sahd is an associate professor of nursing at York College of Pennsylvania. She is also a nurse extern coordinator at Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.Zehao Zhou is an assistant professor and information services librarian of Schmidt Library, York College of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Zehao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004761:Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D000069467:Fecal Microbiota Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome