The most effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT); however, the optimal route of administration is thus far unknown. This retrospective cohort study of 343 patients sought to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with FMT capsules, FMT enema, and rectal bacteriotherapy (RBT) during a five-year period. The primary endpoint was clinical resolution from CDI after eight weeks, and secondary endpoints were time to recurrence and death during the follow-up period. The proportion of patients with clinical resolution was 79.9% in the FMT capsule group, 53.3% in the FMT enema group, and 61.8% in the RBT group, corresponding to an adjusted odds ratio of 3.79 (CI: 1.82 to 8.26) in the FMT capsule group compared with FMT enema, and 2.92 (CI: 1.49 to 6.03) compared with RBT. The hazards ratio for recurrence within the first 12 months of follow-up was 0.24 (CI: 0.06 to 0.89) in the FMT capsule group compared with FMT enema, and 0.26 (CI: 0.08 to 0.91) compared with RBT. There was no difference in mortality. In conclusion, FMT capsules were more effective than both FMT enema and RBT as treatment of recurrent CDI and reduced the risk of further recurrences.
Keywords: CDI; Clostridioides difficile infection; FMT; RBT; faecal microbiota transplantation; rectal bacteriotherapy.