Poop That Saves Lives

Fecal microbiota transplantation sounds revolting, yet for recurrent C. difficile infection it can be highly effective when standard antibiotic approaches fail. Many studies report success rates above 80%, with some protocols reaching around 90%.

Healthy donor stool is screened, processed, and delivered to the patient's gut to rebuild a damaged microbial community. The strong evidence is for recurrent C. difficile, not for every disease now being tested.

Antibiotics try to win by killing. A transplant wins by rebuilding. Instead of adding one helpful microbe, it moves an entire living community into the gut at once. That community restores colonization resistance — the crowd of friendly bacteria that leaves no room for invaders. Squeezed out and starved of space, C. difficile collapses within days.