Mucosal Versus Fecal Microbiota in FMT
Mucosal Versus Fecal Microbiota in FMT
Clostridium difficile infection is the most common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
 Treatment of this infection usually occurs using other antibiotics, but many individuals have
 persistent diarrhea and multiple relapses. Fecal Transplant (FMT), or Intestinal Microbiota
 Transplantation, (IMT) has been shown to be efficacious when administered after treatment for
 C. difficile. This study will involve taking biopsies from patients during their FMT/IMT via
 colonoscopy, and determine if there are differences in the mucosal flora as compared to the
 stool flora. The investigators hope to discover the critical parts of a healthy microbiota.
A total of 20 subjects with at least one relapse of Clostridium difficile infection
 undergoing Intestinal Microbiota Transplantation via colonoscopy will be recruited in this
 study. The patients will produce a stool specimen at the time of colonoscopy and a biopsy
 will be obtained during the colonoscopy. At 2 weeks and 10 weeks, stool specimens and
 anoscopy will be collected to be tested for C. difficile polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and
 the fecal microbiota. Subjects will be referred from all locations of Emory Healthcare.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Inpatient or outpatient adults, age ≥18

 -  Have had at least 1 relapse of C. difficile

 -  Patients who have had previous FMT

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant or breastfeeding

 -  Critically or acutely ill (Fever will be defined as a documented temperature >37.8°C)

 -  Ileus or toxic megacolon

 -  Unable to give consent