Pediatric Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Abstract

Given the emerging role of the intestinal microbiota as a key regulator of host physiology in health and disease, therapies that modulate enteric bacterial communities offer promise for a variety of clinical disorders. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) represents a fundamental approach to manipulate the gut microbiota, accomplished by administering stool from a healthy donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a diseased recipient. However, despite the plausible feasibility of FMT, there is a paucity of clinical trials evaluating its efficacy, particularly in the pediatric population. To this end, this review seeks to accomplish three primary objectives. First, the rationale and data supporting the efficacy of FMT will be discussed. Second, practical considerations for the use of FMT in a clinical setting will be reviewed. Finally, future areas of study regarding FMT will be identified. Importantly, key studies addressing the role of FMT in pediatric patients will be highlighted.