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Fecal Microbiota Transplant

FMT, Stool Transplant, Bacteriotherapy

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Meta Information

ID:fecal-microbiota-transplant
Name:Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Schema Version:1.5

Alternate Names

  • FMT
  • Stool Transplant
  • Bacteriotherapy

Active Compound

null

Intervention Type

procedure

Delivery

Route:
gastrointestinal_administration
Scope:
  • local
  • systemic

Regulatory Status

  • us:investigational_biologic_drug

Indication

Focus:
  • disease_treatment
  • healthspan
Description:
Primarily a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection. It is being experimentally investigated for healthspan by attempting to restore a more youthful gut microbiome composition.

Typical Protocol

  • For C. diff infection, a single administration via colonoscopy, enema, or oral capsules is the standard of care.
  • Healthspan-focused protocols are not established and are currently confined to research settings, often using young, healthy donors.

Expected Cost Mean

Low Cost:
5000
High Cost:
15000
Cost Type:
procedure
Description:
Includes donor screening, material processing, and administration; rarely covered by insurance for non-C.diff indications.

Summary

Fecal Microbiota Transplant involves transferring rigorously screened stool from a healthy donor into a recipient's gastrointestinal tract. This procedure aims to restore a healthy and diverse microbial community, which is proven to resolve specific infections like recurrent C. diff. For healthspan, the hypothesis is that transplanting a 'young' microbiome could reverse age-related microbial dysbiosis, thereby improving immune function and metabolic health, though this remains highly speculative and unproven in humans.

Purpose

Restores a healthy gut microbiome to treat disease or potentially reverse aging.

Card Summary

A procedure to transfer gut bacteria from a healthy donor, proven for C. diff infection and highly experimental for healthspan.

Drug Class

null

Drugs In Class

Empty Array

Impact

Score:
2.5
Justification:
Highly experimental for healthspan with no robust human data supporting longevity benefits.

Evidence

Grade:
C
Score:
3
Justification:
Strong evidence for C. diff treatment, but only animal/preliminary data for healthspan applications.

Safety

Score:
7.5
Justification:
Significant risk of transmitting pathogens, potential for long-term dysbiosis, and procedural complications.

Flags

  • FDA has issued safety alerts regarding transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms, including fatal cases.
  • Long-term effects on the recipient's immune system, metabolism, and epigenetics are largely unknown.
  • Do-it-yourself (DIY) FMT is extremely dangerous and strongly discouraged due to severe infection risk.
  • Thorough and comprehensive donor screening is critical to minimize risk of pathogen transmission.

Verdict

A powerful medical tool for C. diff; unproven and risky for healthspan.

Created

2026-05-06T16:40:33.506442Z

Ai Model

Gemini 2.5 Pro (High)