AI Article Synopsis
- Biological therapies for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) include probiotics and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT), which are being explored for treating recurrent cases.
- Recent studies on probiotics show mixed results, with some meta-analyses suggesting benefits despite the poor quality of the underlying research; however, FMT has demonstrated high effectiveness, with an 81% cure rate in the latest randomized controlled trial.
- Future research will focus on large-scale studies to determine which patients will benefit most from these biological therapies.
Article Abstract
Purpose Of Review: Biological therapies for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) include probiotics and faecal microbiota transplant (FMT). There is significant interest in their use in treating refractory/recurrent CDI. This review summarizes the latest evidence for these approaches.
Recent Findings: The small number of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using probiotics in CDI have produced variable results; the most recent showed no benefit in preventing disease. However, several meta-analyses published in the last year have suggested benefit in their use, but these conclusions are limited by the poor quality of many of the primary studies, and lack of standardization of the probiotic administered. In contrast, FMT appears highly effective for the treatment of CDI. In the only published RCT, the cure rate was 81%, which is close to the rate shown by meta-analyses of previous case series. The use of artificially produced bacterial mixtures in place of faecal samples is now under investigation.
Summary: Biological therapies for CDI, especially FMT, will continue to attract attention. Further, large-scale RCTs are required to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from these therapies in the future.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.qco.0000433319.82618.8f | DOI Listing |
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