Is Fecal Microbiota Therapy Safe and Effective for Immunocompromised Individuals?

Fecal microbiota therapy (FMT) is recommended for patients with recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), although those who are immunocompromised may be at subsequent increased risk for adverse events such as bacteremia; thus, the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) recommends against FMT in patients with severely immunocompromising conditions (e.g., neutropenia, advanced untreated HIV). To assess the safety and effectiveness of FMT, investigators conducted a meta-analysis of 44 studies encompassing 1208 immunosuppressed patients (only 10 of whom met the AGA definition of severe immunocompromise). The leading qualifying conditions were receipt of solid organ transplant (SOT), chemotherapy, or hematopoietic stem …