Are you doing fecal transplants very often?

Published

Specializes in BNAT instructor, ICU, Hospice,triage.

I know that they've been around for at least 10 years. Just read about their effectiveness in research lately. Sounds like they are very effective, even though icky.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

The only time I've ever heard of it was on a Grey's Anatomy episode for the treatment of C-diff. My unit has yet to perform a fecal transplant, and I can definitely say I wouldn't want to be the nurse assigned to a patient who had one ordered! We use Flagyl, which works just fine for us.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in school nursing, ortho, trauma.

I;ve only ever read about them - the yuck factor is too high for me to be very curious. That's certainly a level of closeness i never want to reach with anyone!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Room.

I also recently read about the success of fecal transplants. I think it's pretty amazing! As yucky as it is, I think most pt.s with C-diff would prefer the transplant. I feel so sorry for those patients, they are so uncomfortable, they cannot control their bowels, and the elderly develop terrible skin breakdown from it. Imagine if we can erradicate c-diff with this...How amazing would that be?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU, MICU, BURN ICU, Trauma, CTICU, CCU.

Our unit has done them. I had one patient they wanted to do one on... I gave the assignment to another nurse. I just don't have the stomach for it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele, Med-Surg, MICU.

I've seen it done once in three years. Patient had resistant c-diff. Brother brought in a sample. WHIZZZ in a blender, then, installation... the gastroenterologist did the procedure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in cardiac/PACU/SICU/Trauma ICU.

I first heard about this from Grey's! I thought no way would this ever happen. Then the next day, an ID doc. was talking about it. He is a big supporter of it and would like to see it done in our hospital, but there is a push from others not to. I think if it works ok, but I am glad that we are sticking to Flagyl for now! YUCK!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I think I came to allnurses looking for info on cdiff and resistant cdiff yrs ago and asked about this.

I'd like to know how effective they are for the treatment of resistant cdiff. I would say yuck, ick and no way, but after taking care of people that suffer with it...I would try anything.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in GERIATRICS,HOSPICE,MENTAL/PHYS DISABILED.

I found this interesting.

A modified form of fecal bacteriotherapy (Autologous Restoration of Gastrointestinal Flora - ARGF) that is safer, more effective, and easier to administer is being developed.[3] An autologous faecal sample, provided by the patient before medical treatment, is stored in a refrigerator. Should the patient subsequently develop C. difficile, the sample is extracted with saline and filtered. The filtrate is freeze-dried and the resulting solid enclosed in enteric-coated capsules. Administration of the capsules will restore the patient's own colonic flora and combat C. difficile. This procedure will avoid the hazards of standard FB, where infection from the donor could be transmitted to the patient and the requirement to deliver faecal samples into the duodenum via a nasal probe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fecal_bacteriotherapy

This would be way better than having to use a donor sample.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
I've seen it done once in three years. Patient had resistant c-diff. Brother brought in a sample. WHIZZZ in a blender, then, installation... the gastroenterologist did the procedure.

So, what happened to the blender after the...um, preparation?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU/CCU, PICU.

My hospital is currently in the process of one. I have no clue how it's going to go but I'll keep you all informed!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.

I recently read about this, and I think it is fascinating. A husband provided a sample for his wife. What was interesting was that he had such a short time period to provide it and had to stay right next to the hospital until he could produce some feces. It worked and she is better now, why would anyone NOT ever want to have this done if you have constant bowel problems with c-diff?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion