1. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Patients Co-Infected with SARS-CoV2 and Clostridioides difficile
- Author
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Adrian Boicean, Bogdan Neamtu, Sabrina Birsan, Florina Batar, Ciprian Tanasescu, Horatiu Dura, Mihai Dan Roman, Adrian Hașegan, Dan Bratu, Alin Mihetiu, Călin Ilie Mohor, Cosmin Mohor, Ciprian Bacila, Mihai Octavian Negrea, and Sorin Radu Fleaca
- Subjects
fecal microbiota transferring ,co-infection ,SARS-CoV2 ,C. difficile ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 - Abstract
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the treatment of Clostridioides Difficile (CD)-infected patients given the increasing number of co-infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this context, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) shows promise in modulating the immune system’s function and alleviating the burdens associated with this condition. Methods: To achieve this goal, we performed a comparative, retrospective, single-center study on 86 patients (admitted between January 2020 and March 2022). We based our approach on specific inclusion criteria: 1. The study group included 46 co-infected patients (COVID-19 and CD) receiving antibiotics and FMT; 2. In the control group, 40 co-infected patients received antibiotics only. Our results showed no significant group differences in terms of gender, age, risk factors such as cardiovascular and neurological diseases, type 2 diabetes, and obesity (p > 0.05), or in pre-treatment inflammatory status, evaluated by white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. We report a significant decrease in inflammatory syndrome (CRP, WBC) in coinfected patients receiving FMT in addition to antibiotics (p < 0.05), with a lower relapse rate and mitigation of cramping and abdominal pain (91.3%). In addition, a higher level of fibrinogen, persistent moderate abdominal pain (82.5%), and a significantly higher CD infection relapse rate (42.5%) were recorded in co-infected patients treated only with antibiotics (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study provides new data to support the multiple benefits of FMT in the case of COVID-19 and CD co-infection by improving patients’ quality of life and inflammatory syndrome.
- Published
- 2022
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