This single-center, randomized, open-label trial will compare the safety of MTT delivered by rectal catheter enema in participants 12-60 months of age with malnutrition (moderate acute malnutrition \[MAM\] or severe acute malnutrition \[SAM\]) who are in the rehabilitative phase of treatment and have failed to respond to at least 4 weeks of standard therapy. Participants must meet inclusion criteria, no exclusion criteria prior to randomization. Participants will then be randomized in a 1:1 ratio at each site to 1 of 2 treatment groups: * MTT by rectal catheter enema: 10mL/kg (maximum 150mL, +/- 5ml) of healthy donor human intestinal microbiota will be infused. * Standard of care treatment for malnutrition as prescribed by local and national Department of Health Guidelines Participants will be evaluated through 56 days (±3) after randomization for primary outcomes (safety) as well as secondary outcomes (nutritional, clinical and microbiological response). Participant blood and urine samples will be collected at enrollment and day 56. Participant stool samples will be collected at enrollment and through days 3, 7, 21 and 56, thereafter, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months. A caregiver stool sample will be collected at enrollment and day 56. Samples will be used for microbiome determination and other exploratory microbiological endpoints. An aliquot of donor stool will also be stored for microbiome determination and other exploratory microbiological endpoints and assessment of newly acquired infectious agents.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
5
Fecal microbiota delivered by rectal catheter enema in participants 12-60 months of age with malnutrition (MAM or SAM) who are in the rehabilitation phase of treatment and have failed to respond to at least 4 weeks of standard therapy.
University of Cape Town
Cape Town, South Africa
Serious Adverse Events
Number of participants with an Adverse Event grade 2 or above up to 56 days post-treatment
Time frame: 56 days
Nutritional recovery:
Proportion of participants with nutritional recovery at day 56 after randomization. Defined as weight for height z-score (WHZ) ≥ -2 or MUAC ≥ 125 mm. In cases where there is a significant discrepancy between the weight and MUAC the participants weight will be used as the definitive measure.
Time frame: 56 days
Clinical:
Presence of signs and symptoms or complications of acute malnutrition. Clinical signs include fever (axillary temperature \> 38.5⁰C), tachypnea (average of two measures; defined as respiratory rate of \> 40 breaths per minute for children 12-60 months of age). Symptoms include diarrhea (≥ 3 loose stools in the last 24 hours), vomiting, and cough.
Time frame: 56 days
Microbiological:
Assess engraftment of donor microbial communities in recipients through taxonomic characterization of donor and recipient microbiota pre- and post-MTT using both 16S rRNA and metagenomic techniques.
Time frame: 56 Days
Translational:
Assess the capacity for MTT to normalize biomarkers correlated with disease status and mortality in malnutrition. Stool biomarkers include Myeloperoxidase, Alpha-1-Antitrypsin, fecal calprotectin and neopterin. Serological biomarkers include CRP, endotoxin assay (Hek-Blue), and leptin.
Time frame: 56 Days
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