Fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridium difficile infection in patients with ileal pouches

Abstract

Background: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in patients with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) has been increasingly recognized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in patients with pouch and CDI. Methods: All consecutive patients that underwent FMT for CDI from 2012 to 2016 were extracted from our IRB-approved, prospectively maintained Registry of Pouch Disorders. The primary outcome was negative stool tests for Clostridium difficile after FMT and the secondary outcomes were symptomatic and endoscopic responses. Results: A total of 13 patients were included in this study, with 10 being Caucasian males (76.9%). All patients had underlying ulcerative colitis for J pouch surgery. After a mean of 2.860.8 courses of antibiotic treatments was given and failed, 22 sessions of FMT were administered with an average of 1.761.1 sessions each. Within the 22 sessions, 16 were given via pouchoscopy, 4 via esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 2 via enemas. All patients tested negative on C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after the initial FMT with a total of 7/12 (58.3%) documented patients showed symptomatic improvements and 3/11 (27.3%) patients showed endoscopic improvement according to the modified Pouchitis Disease Activity Index. During the follow-up of 1.261.1 years, there were a total of five patients (38.5%) that had recurrence after the successful initial treatment and four of them were successfully treated again with FMT. Conclusions: FMT appeared to be effective in eradication of CDI in patients with ileal pouches. However, FMT had a modest impact on endoscopic inflammation and recurrence after FMT and recurrence was common.