Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapy for a number of diseases. But what exactly is an FMT?
What is a Faecal Microbiome transplant (FMT)
A faecal microbiota transplantation is the placement of donor stool into the bowel of a person who is unwell to treat a medical condition.
The underlying principle of FMT is that bacteria and metabolites from a healthy donor can alter the bacterial community of the recipient when stool is placed into the recipient’s intestine. This then promotes the recolonisation of organisms from the “healthy donor” stool in the gut of the recipient. This in turn decreases the less beneficial bacteria and may promote health in the recipient.
What is an FMT used for?
FMT is used globally to treat C. diff (Clostridioides difficile or C. difficile). C. Diff is a bacterium that causes diarrhoea and inflammation of the colon (colitis). Often, C.Diff is antibiotic resistant, so antibiotics cannot be used to treat it. However, using FMT bacteria from a healthy donor can colonise the patient’s gut. Bacteria from the FMT compete with C. diff and recolonise the gut of the patient so as to displace the harmful C. Diff.
What are the benefits of FMT?
FMT presents a novel way of treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The treatment is relatively safe and tolerated by recipients.
Given the role of the microbiome in metabolic, inflammatory, and neurological conditions, research is pointing to a role for FMT in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and dementia and even to enhance cancer treatments.
What are the risks of FMT?
Although generally considered safe as a therapeutic, this comes with a caveat. Donor material for all FMT performed in hospitals comes from donors who have been screened for several diseases and to ensure overall good health. This material is screened for pathogens (disease-causing organisms) before being prepared and used for FMT.
All material used to produce FMT in Australia is regulated by The 2020 Therapeutic Goods Guidelines and produced by the Federal Therapeutic Goods Standard for Faecal Microbiota Transplant Products. FMT may contain harmful pathogens, which are screened for during the manufacturing process.
It is really important never to perform FMT on yourself or other people using unscreened faeces. FMT should only be performed under the guidance of medical professionals.
Where does the FMT transplant material come from?
The material used for FMT comes from healthy donors. Similar to blood donation, the donors undergo a health screening before donating their stool. If the donor is eligible, they will be asked to provide their sample.
Before it is used it is tested for pathogens to ensure it is safe to use in unwell people.
How can I become an FMT donor?
If you are interested in becoming a donor Lifeblood accept donations from suitable donors.
Please visit their website Microbiome | Lifeblood for more information on how you can help others through a donation of your stool.
Do you have any research In FMT I can help with?
Yes, we always have research happening here at the Microbiome Research Centre. You can learn more about our current and past research here or click on one of the studies currently recruiting below.
