Fecal microbiota transplantation may reduce the mortality of patients with severe and fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection compared to standard-of-care antibiotics in a community hospital.

OBJECTIVES

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is known for significant morbidity and mortality. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective therapy for recurrent and resistant CDI. However, its impact on the mortality rate of patients with severe and fulminant CDI has not been rigorously studied yet. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of FMT on the mortality rate of patients with severe or fulminant CDI in a community hospital system.

METHODS

Our study included 106 inpatients with severe or fulminant CDI. Both standard-of-care (SOC) and FMT were provided to 14 (13.2%) patients (the FMT group). SOC antibiotics alone were provided to 92 (86.8%) patients, out of whom 28 patients were included via propensity score matching in a 2:1 ratio (the SOC group). The primary outcome was defined as the composite end-point of mortality during admission, within 30 and 90 days after discharge, and discharge with comfort measures only. Each component was a secondary end-point.

RESULTS

The primary outcome rate in the FMT group was 7.1% (1/14) compared to 25.0% (7/28) in the SOC group. Univariate analysis demonstrated that FMT decreases mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.58, P = 0.01). However, multivariate regression did not show statistical significance (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.01-2.53, P = 0.19), possibly due to the small sample size.

CONCLUSIONS

FMT may decrease the mortality of patients with severe and fulminant CDI. Large studies are needed to validate these findings.