J Korean Med Assoc.  2017 Sep;60(9):761-768. 10.5124/jkma.2017.60.9.761.

Safety and effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation: a systematic review

• Kim S
• Lee Y
• Kim SH

• KMID: 2389796
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2017.60.9.761

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation is a technique for treating patients suffering from Clostridium difficile infection who do not positively respond to traditional treatment with antibiotics or whose infections have recurred, by transplanting the feces of healthy individuals. The objective of this review is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fecal microbiota transplantation. A literature search was conducted using 8 Korean databases, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Of the 1,410 articles that were initially identified, 30 studies were included in this review. The results show that the incidence of major complications was low and that mild complications resolved. Improvements in the symptoms of diarrhea after treatment were observed and the rate of recurrence was acceptable. On the basis of the current data, fecal microbiota transplantation can be considered a safe and effective technique for treating patients suffering from C. difficile infection who do not positively respond to traditional treatment with antibiotics or whose infections have recurred.

Keyword

Clostridium difficile; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Systematic review

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Clostridium difficile
Diarrhea
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation*
Feces
Humans
Incidence
Recurrence
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Flow chart of literature selection process. CDI, Clostridium difficile infection.

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