Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Microbial Therapeutics for the Treatment of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Pediatric Patients

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2021 Nov 17;10(Supplement_3):S58-S63. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piab056.

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and has high rates of recurrent disease. As a disease associated with intestinal dysbiosis, gastrointestinal microbiome manipulation and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have evolved as effective, although relatively unregulated therapeutics and not without safety concerns. FMT for the treatment of CDI has been well studied in adults with increasing data reported in children. In this review, we discuss the current body of literature on the use of FMT in children including effectiveness, safety, risk factors for a failed FMT, and the role of FMT in children with comorbidities. We also review emerging microbial therapeutics for the treatment of rCDI.

Keywords: fecal microbiota transplantation; fecal transplantation; pediatric Clostridioides difficile.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Clostridioides
  • Clostridioides difficile*
  • Clostridium Infections* / therapy
  • Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
  • Humans
  • Recurrence
  • Treatment Outcome