First AD

Second AD

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), also known as stool transplant, is an effective treatment option in 

B. FMT can be administered via the upper or lower GI tract 

C. FMT can restore gut microbiota diversity

D. FMT should be reserved for otherwise immunocompetent patients

Answer: D. FMT should be reserved for otherwise immunocompetent patients

 infection and can be safely used in immunocompromised patients. This process involves taking stool from a healthy individual (donor) followed by instillation into a person who is infected with 

 (recipient). In a recently published multicenter study, the overall cure rate was nearly 90%. Stool can be administrated either through a nasogastric feeding tube, an upper endoscopy, or via colonoscopy. FMT can be used in immunocompromised patients, and it was in this patient population that FMT initially demonstrated success in early case studies.

Photo: Courtesy of CDC/Lois S. Wiggs.  Micrograph of Gram-positive 

bacteria from a stool sample culture obtained using a .1µm filter. (

 Fecal microbiota transplantation in relapsing Clostridium difficile infection

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Stool transplant for C. difficile infection is becoming more popular. But, is the cure rate really 90%? 

Fecal Microbiota Transplant Has a 90% Cure Rate: T/F?