Establishing a fecal microbiota transplant service for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection

Abstract

Recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become an increasing problem in the past decade. Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a highly efficacious treatment for recurrent CDI; however, a number of technical, logistical, and regulatory issues have hampered the development of an FMT capability at many hospitals. The development of a frozen stool bank of screened donor stool is an important step in the standardization of the procedure. This gives clinicians rapid access to thoroughly screened donor stool when needed, without the ethical and logistical problems associated with patient-selected donors. We describe the practicalities of establishing such a service using a stool bank of prescreened donor stool including detail regarding donor recruitment and screening, stool preparation, and delivery of the FMT.