Fecal microbiota transplantation as potential first-line treatment for patients with Clostridioides difficile infection and prior appendectomy

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a global health problem. The association of appendectomy on the severity and prognosis of CDI has been reported in many literatures, but there are still contradictions. In a retrospective study entitled “Patients with Closterium diffuse infection and prior appendectomy may be prone to word outcomes” published in World J Gastrointest Surg 2021, the author found that prior appendectomy affects the severity of CDI. Appendectomy may be a risk factor for increasing the severity of CDI. Therefore, it is necessary to seek alternative treatment for patients with prior appendectomy when they are more likely to have severe or fulminant CDI.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile infection; Appendectomy; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Intestinal microbiota; Toxic megacolon; Colectomy

Core Tip: The fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a universally approved treatment plan for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). We believe that early FMT is a better choice for patients with CDI and prior appendectomy even if they are not diagnosed as recurrent CDI. FMT can change the composition of patients' intestinal microbiota in a lasting way to prevent worse outcomes.