Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is an established treatment for Clostridium difficile (C. diff) infection refractory to medical management. As C. diff infection usually arises due to significant disturbances in the gut microbiome, FMT is typically performed to restore a healthy microbiome among affected patients who have failed other treatments. Diverticulitis is a major, and often recurrent, source of morbidity in the U.S for which antibiotics and surgical resection constitute the only treatment options to date. Although alterations of the intestinal microbiome have also been shown among patients with diverticular disease, research on FMT in diverticulitis is sparse. The intended goal of this project is to determine the feasibility, effectiveness and safety of FMT in the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis, using clinical outcomes and microbiome analyses.
This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in treating uncomplicated diverticulitis. FMT will be delivered via colonoscopy using donor stool. Fecal material samples obtained from the University of Minnesota Microbiota Therapeutics Program (UMMTP) will be used each patients FMT. These samples undergo FDA mandated testing prior to being used as donor samples. Recipients will undergo FMT via Colonoscopy at UMASS Memorial Medical Center and will be monitored for one hour after the procedure to ensure they are not experiencing any adverse events. They will receive a phone call 24 hours and 2 weeks after their procedure to ensure that they are at their baseline health. Recipients follow-up visits will occur at one month, 3 month, 6 months and 1 year post FMT. Baseline stool samples will be collected from both the recipients and the UMMTP samples for baseline metagenomic sequencing. Recipient stool samples will be obtained weekly for the first month, then at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year. Microbiome analyses will also performed on recipient all stool samples post FMT to assess for successful engraftment of donor's microbiota onto the recipient's.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) involves administering fecal material from a healthy individual into the gastrointestinal tract of another individual. This is currently an accepted method of treatment for recurrent colitis secondary to Clostridium difficile infection refractory to antibiotics/medical management. FMT can be delivered via capsule endoscopy or via colonoscopy. In this study, it will be administered via colonoscopy.
UMASS Memorial Medical Center
Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Number of diverticular flares/attacks since FMT
After FMT, recipients/participants will be asked to report the number of diverticulitis episodes they have experienced since FMT
Time frame: 1 year
Number of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to diverticulitis since FMT
After FMT, recipients/participants will be asked to report the number of times (if any) they presented to the emergency room or were hospitalized due to diverticulitis.
Time frame: 1 year
Number of courses of antibiotics required for the treatment of diverticulitis since FMT
After FMT, recipients/participants will be asked to report whether they required any antibiotics due to diverticulitis
Time frame: 1 year
Necessity for surgery
After FMT, recipients/participants will be asked to report whether they required surgery to treat diverticulitis
Time frame: 1 year
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