Pseudomembraneous enterocolitis: mechanism for restoring floral homeostasis.

Over an 18-year period 16 patients with pseudomembraneous enterocolitis were treated by restoration of floral homeostasis by administration of fecal enemas when standard accepted forms of therapy had failed to resolve the disease. Thirteen of the patients responded dramatically, with decreases in diarrhea, temperature, white blood cell counts, and a rapid convalesence. Of the three patients who died, two did not have the pseudomembrane at death, and one had involvement of the small bowel. No ill effects from the fecal enemas were noted. The observation of the pseudomembrane involving only the right half of the colon in a patient with a diverting transverse colostomy indicates that the disease is a contact mucositis.