A faecal microbiota transplant using tablets containing freeze-dried microbes has been deemed as “life-saving” and is set to revolutionise care for people with clostridium difficile infection.
Academics from the University of Minnesota Medical School have discovered that capsule faecal microbiota transplants can prevent the problems associated with transplants by a colonoscopy.
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Chief author Dr Byron Vaughn said: “Capsule fecal microbiota transplant can avoid complications of colonoscopy and facilitate access to this potentially life-saving therapy.”
Clostridium difficile infection is a type of bacteria that can cause a bowel infection, often affecting people who have been taking antibiotics.
A faecal microbiota transplant fixes any damage caused by medication and builds a stronger resistance against clostridium difficile infection.
During the study, the team of researchers examined the health outcomes of 269 adults who had undergone a faecal microbiota transplant, either through a capsule or a colonoscopy. They detected that both treatment options were as beneficial as each other.
The study has been published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
