For Poop Transplants, Frozen Feces Work Just Fine

Poop is not the most pleasant topic to discuss, even in terms of medical science. Yet for those suffering from the intestinal infection Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that can cause diarrhea or in more severe cases, life-threatening colon inflammation, a fecal transplant is oftentimes necessary. Though previous studies have shown a preference for fresh specimens, a recent study shows that frozen samples may be easy for patients to receive and less costly.

The study examined 20 patients treated with stool from unrelated donors that were frozen up to 156 days and then thawed for use. All participants had previously failed multiple antibiotic treatments. Fortunately, findings showed a 90 percent cure rate in the sample group. 

After just one round, 14 of the patients were cured and four out of five were cured on the second round. One of the men who was not initially cured opted out of the second round to try a do-it-yourself version enema of a roommate's stool.

In many cases, receiving frozen specimens can be easier for patients during the transplant procedure. Those who received fresh specimens required a colonoscopy, whereas the frozen fecal matter group could be delivered through a tube positioned via the nose that goes down and into the stomach.  

As an estimated 30 percent of patients will experience recurrent infections, frozen fecal matter can be a less-expensive and simpler procedure, according to The Verge.

Yes. We know. It certainly sounds disgusting, but overall, most infected were simply more concerned with their health.

"When you have been sick for a year or more with diarrhea, and your quality of life has been greatly affected, you easily get past the ick factor," said infectious disease expert at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Elizabeth Hohmann, via Live Science.

Hoffman notes that many doctors typically like to treat patients with certain antibiotics before beginning the transplant... "we like to treat patients for at least four days with vancomycin - an antibiotic - at the time of [C. difficile] relapse." Shortly following, the implant typically begins. 

However, researchers also stress that antibiotics used to treat lingering or reoccurring infections can be potentially harmful to the health issue when healthy gut bacteria is killed off.

It's estimated that in the United States alone each year, C. difficile is responsible for more than 250,000 infections that may require hospitalizations and another 14,000 ending in death.

Those looking to donate specimens must not eat certain allergens days before the donation--including nuts and eggs--as these samples would no longer be suitable for certain recipients.

Since the beginning of the study with the initial 20 participants, researchers have treated an additional 11 patients with frozen specimens at a 91 percent success rate.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the journal Clinical Infectious Disease.