Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2021 Apr 14:zxab161. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxab161. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
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PURPOSE: There is a paucity of literature surrounding the use of early fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for patients presenting with an initial episode of severe, refractory Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). Information on optimal antibiotic dosing and therapy duration surrounding FMT during an acute, initial episode of CDI is also limited. Described here is a case of successful treatment of CDI after 4 FMTs during an acute, initial episode of severe, refractory Clostridioides difficile colitis.
SUMMARY: A 69-year-old community-dwelling, Caucasian male presented after 48 hours of vomiting and diarrhea. A stool sample tested positive via stool sample by both polymerase chain reaction and enzme-linked immunosorbent assays for Clostridioides difficile. The patient was treated with several days of oral and rectal vancomycin therapy in addition to intravenous metronidazole, but those treatments failed. His clinical and nutrition status deteriorated over the course of several days until salvage therapy was ordered, with administration of 1 inpatient nasogastric FMT and 1 inpatient colonoscopic FMT followed by outpatient colonoscopic FMTs on 2 consecutive days within 2 weeks of hospital discharge.
CONCLUSION: This case suggests a role for early, repeat FMT during an initial presentation of a severe Clostridioides difficile colitis episode refractory to pharmacologic antimicrobial therapy. It also adds to emerging literature regarding the timing of antibiotic cessation surrounding FMT.
PMID:33851215 | DOI:10.1093/ajhp/zxab161