Long-term safety of faecal microbiota transplantation for gastrointestinal diseases in China

Treatment of several diseases, such as recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection, by faecal microbiota transplanatation (FMT) has increased since 2015. 1 Kelly CR Yen EF Grinspan AM et al. Fecal microbiota transplantation is highly effective in real-world practice: initial results from the FMT National Registry. Gastroenterology. 2021; 160: 183-192 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (49) Google Scholar Because both the technology for and the concept of treating diseases by interfering with gut microbiota are new, clinicians and patients are particularly concerned about treatment safety. To our knowledge, most studies investigating the safety of FMT have focused on short-term risks, which are mild and generally associated with FMT delivery methods. There have been no reports of FMT safety in the treatment of multiple diseases or for long follow-up periods. 2 Mullish BH Quraishi MN Segal JP et al. The use of faecal microbiota transplant as treatment for recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infection and other potential indications: joint British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) and Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) guidelines. Gut. 2018; 67: 1920-1941 Crossref PubMed Scopus (159) Google Scholar , 3 Saha S Mara K Pardi DS Khanna S Long-term safety of fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection. Gastroenterology. 2021; 160: 1961-1969 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (27) Google Scholar