The donated human stool can be successfully used for treating a patient suffering from Clostridium difficile (also known as C.Diff) infection, a severe type of diarrhea and other intestinal infection in human being, a new study says.
The researchers from Henry Ford Hospital claim that a novel therapy through donated human stool of a healthy kin can save the life of a rigorously C.Diff affected patient.
The research has been found very successfully, safe and very effective, claimed Mayur Ramesh, M.D., the lead researcher and author of the study at Henry Ford Infectious Diseases.
C. difficile is the most serious cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and can lead to pseudomembranous colitis, a severe inflammation of the colon that can lead to death if untreated. Symptoms include water diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain and tenderness. C.diff occurs in patients taking antibiotics, and can spread from person -to-person contact or from touching contaminated equipment and objects like door knobs.
Researchers found that 43 of 49 patients recovered swiftly after treatment and had no adverse complications from C.diff three months later. It has been proved very effective in those who do not want to go under surgery.
Treatment is performed either through a nasogastric tube or colonscopy on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
"More than 90 percent of the patients in our study were cured of their C.diff infection. This treatment is a viable option for patients who are not responding to conventional treatment and who want to avoid surgery," said Dr. Ramesh.
In their study, researchers evaluated 49 patients who contracted Clostridium difficile, or C.diff, a germ that causes diarrhea and other intestinal problems and is linked to 14,000 deaths annually.
Patients with a C.diff infection are typically treated with the antibiotics metronidazole or vancomycin. However, surgery could be required to remove the infected part of the intestines.
In its study, Henry Ford treated patients between May 2010 and June 2012 with a therapy called intestinal microbiota transplantation (IMT), using donated stool from a healthy family member.
Dr. Ramesh said the healthy stool, when mixed with warm tap water and administered, helps to re-establish the normal intestinal flora in the patient's gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal flora is healthy bacteria that stimulates the immune system and aids the digestion and absorption of food.
"Patients who receive treatment through a nasogastric tube don't taste or smell the stool mixture as it's administered. Patients often resume their diet within a couple hours and are feeling better within 24 hours," Dr. Ramesh said.
Of the 49 patients, 43 fully recovered, four died of causes unrelated to C.diff, one had intestinal surgery and one had no improvement.
The study is being presented Friday at the annual Infectious Diseases Society of America meeting in San Diego, US.
--With ANI Inputs--
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