what is that fecal transplant how does that work,
Apparently good bacteria that improves gut flora is better inserted anally (lol) than probiotics.
They find healthy individuals to donate their poo, which over a course of a few days or weeks,
is inserted by colonoscopy, enamas or via the nose by a tube...It's all messed up and gross and not cheap either
Human Microbial Infusion (Faecal Microbial Transplant)
Introduction
Human Microbial Infusion or HMI (previously known as Faecal Microbial Transplant) was pioneered in Australia by Professor Thomas Borody at the Centre for Digestive Disorders (CDD), the home of The Probiotic Therapy Research Centre (PTRC).
What are probiotics
Probiotics are described as being living micro-organisms which, upon ingestion, affect the body in a beneficial manner. The human bowel contains a complex population of bacteria of several hundred different species and thousands of subspecies. These bacteria, and the chemicals they produce, can have a negative or a positive effect on the human body within which they live. The 'good' bacteria found in the human bowel are known as normal flora. This normal human flora is considered beneficial to the body as these bacteria aid in the breakdown of proteins and fats in food and help with the metabolism of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. They control infective bacteria from implanting via a number of mechanisms, and in addition, the good bacteria appear to boost the immune system and protect us from pathogenic (bad) bacteria penetrating the bowel wall and infecting the host, the human body. In fact they can stimulate immune responses beyond the gut positively improving skin and respiratory tract immunity, for example.
Problems arise if pathogenic or bad bacteria implant or live among the good human flora. This can cause an imbalance which can have a debilitating and toxic effect on the bowel or even the entire body. Probiotics can include normal human flora which are introduced into the body to increase their dominance in the bowel, thereby reversing the damage and associated problems caused by bad bacteria. Although transient passage of cultured probiotics can improve symptoms it should be noted that oral probiotics commercially available are incapable of implanting permanently into the gut flora as they have lost their capability to adhere to epithelial cells through the process of culturing in the commercial laboratory. It is only fresh human probiotics from another human being that retain that capability and hence can be implanted to reverse damage and side effects and then stay in the bowel to protect in the future.
What is an HPI?
HPI (Human Probiotic Infusion) uses normal 'healthy' human flora introduced into the patients bowel to 'kill' the bad bacteria.
The use of healthy human flora appears to be the most effective probiotic treatment available today. Healthy human flora acts as a 'broad spectrum antibiotic' against pathogens with the added benefit of being able to implant missing bacteria.
HPI therapy involves the infusion of healthy human donor flora bacteria into the bowel of the patient. The infusion is repeated for at least 5 days or longer. The therapy includes a special low fibre diet prior to infusion and a course of antibiotics to kill off as many bad bacteria as possible before infusion.
Killing off 'bad' bacteria before infusion gives the newly introduced 'good' bacteria a better chance of re-establishing dominance. Preparation also includes a bowel washout prior to infusion.
Infusions can be done via:
- Colonoscopy - Here the routine preparation for colonoscopy is taken and with the instrument deep in the bowel or even in the lower small bowel - the human flora bacteria are infused to cover as much bowel wall as possible
- Enema - this is a simpler method of infusing as a liquid flora mixture in saline through the rectum
- Nasojejunal tube - In this method a fine tube is placed under sedation through the nose, guided by the endoscope into the small bowel, and then allowed to advance well into the small bowel for the infusion to cover any infective pathogens even in the mid-small bowel
- Donors
Donors can be selected from individual's family members or can be close friends. All donors are fully screened for infections (parasitic, bacterial and viral) before therapy for HIV; Hep A, B, C; CMV; EBV; toxoplasmosis; syphilis; as well as for a large number of possible stool pathogens.
PEPH gastroenterology also has available donors through a donor bank for patients who do not have a suitable donor. These donors are screened on a regular basis for all of the above.
http://www.drpaulfroomes.com.au/content/blogsection/7/46/