Faecal microbial transplant (“FMT”) is a treatment where stool (or faecal matter) is collected from a healthy donor and transplanted into the gut of a patient. This has been shown to be effective for patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (also referred to as Clostridioides difficile) which is refractory to conventional therapies. There is minimal evidence for use for general “gut health” or for irritable bowel syndrome, and only modest evidence for use in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In most cases, patients with IBD are better off with conventional therapies which are safe and effective.
Despite the apparent benign nature of FMT, the U.S. Food and Drug Authority (FDA) recommended against FMT for a period of time after six patients developed serious infections (including two deaths) after undergoing FMT. This treatment was only approved by the FDA in 2022 for limited indications.