Fecal microbiota transplantation: a step into the past or the future? A review

Abstract

New data on the association of intestinal microbiome changes with some serious diseases raised the question of the role of the bacteria living in the intestine in maintaining human health. One way to study the composition and function of the microbiome and adjust it is fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), which refers to the transfer of the donor's intestinal microbiota into the recipient's body to modify species diversity. Currently, FMT is included in the standards of care for relapsed and refractory types of clostridial infection in many countries. Its possible effect on the course of diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, and some neurological and other diseases is being studied. Fecal biomaterial storage banks have been established in Europe, Asia, and the USA to facilitate donor selection, storage and delivery of the biomaterial to the recipient and simplify the control of the procedure, safety and adverse events. In Australia, a medicinal product is approved, which includes feces of specially examined and prepared donors. Despite many unresolved technological, legal and ethical issues, FMT has already been established as a promising potential treatment for many diseases.