BACKGROUND: Exposure of critically ill patients to antibiotics lead to intestinal dysbiosis, which often manifests as antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. Faecal microbiota transplantation restores gut microbiota and may lead to faster resolution of diarrhoea. METHODS: Into this prospective, multi-centre, randomized controlled trial we will enrol 36 critically ill patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. We will exclude patients with ongoing sepsis, need of systemic antibiotics, or those after recent bowel surgery or any other reason that prevents the FMT. Randomisation will be in 1:1 ratio. Patients in the control group will receive standard treatment based on oral diosmectite. In the intervention group, patients will receive, in addition to the standard of care, faecal microbiota transplantation via rectal tube, in the form of a preparation mixed from 7 thawed aliquots (50 mL) made from fresh stool of 7 healthy unrelated donors and quarantined deep frozen for 3 to 12 months. Primary outcome is treatment failure defined as intervention not delivered or diarrhoea persisting at day 7 after randomisation. Secondary outcomes include safety measures such as systemic inflammatory response, adverse events, and also diarrhoea recurrence within 28 days. Exploratory outcomes focus on gut barrier function and composition of intestinal microbiota. DISCUSSION: Faecal microbiota transplantation has been effective for dysbiosis in non-critically ill patients with recurrent C. difficile infections and it is plausible to hypothesize that it will be equally effective for symptoms of dysbiosis in the critically ill patients. In addition, animal experiments and observational data suggest other benefits such as reduced colonization with multi-drug resistant bacteria and improved gut barrier and immune function. The frozen faeces from unrelated donors are immediately available when needed, unlike those from the relatives, who require lengthy investigation. Using multiple donors maximises graft microbiota diversity. Nonetheless, in vulnerable critically ill patients, Faecal microbiota transplantation might lead to bacterial translocation and unforeseen complications. From growing number of case series it is clear that its off label use in the critically ill patients is increasing and that there is a burning need to objectively assess its efficacy and safety, which this trial aims. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05430269).

• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky * škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• dysbióza terapie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace * metody   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• klinické zkoušky, fáze II jako téma MeSH
• kritický stav * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• multicentrické studie jako téma MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• průjem * terapie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
• střevní mikroflóra * účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• protokol klinické studie MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky * MeSH

BACKGROUND: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a developing therapy for disorders related to gut dysbiosis. Despite its growing application, standardised protocols for FMT filtrate preparation and quality assessment remain undeveloped. The viability of bacteria in the filtrate is crucial for FMT's efficacy and for validating protocol execution. We compared two methods-in vitro cultivation and membrane integrity assessment-for their accuracy, reproducibility and clinical applicability in measuring bacterial viability in frozen FMT stool filtrate. METHODS: Bacterial viability in stool filtrate was evaluated using (i) membrane integrity through fluorescent DNA staining with SYTO9 and propidium iodide, followed by flow cytometry and (ii) culturable bacteria counts (colony-forming units, CFU) under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. RESULTS: Using different types of samples (pure bacterial culture, stool of germ-free and conventionally bred mice, native and heat-treated human stool), we refined the bacterial DNA staining protocol integrated with flow cytometry for assessment of bacterial viability in frozen human stool samples. Both the membrane integrity-based and cultivation-based methods exhibited significant variability in bacterial viability across different FMT filtrates, without correlation. The cultivation-based method showed a mean coefficient of variance of 30.3%, ranging from 7.4% to 60.1%. Conversely, the membrane integrity approach yielded more reproducible results, with a mean coefficient of variance for viable cells of 6.4% ranging from 0.2% to 18.2%. CONCLUSION: Bacterial viability assessment in stool filtrate using the membrane integrity method offers robust and precise data, making it a suitable option for faecal material evaluation in FMT. In contrast, the cultivation-dependent methods produce inconsistent outcomes.

• Klíčová slova
• bacterial viability, cultivation, faecal microbiota transplantation, membrane integrity,
• MeSH
• Bacteria izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• feces * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace * metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální viabilita * MeSH
• myši MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie * metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

BACKGROUND: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an established treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection and is under investigation for other conditions. The availability of suitable donors and the logistics of fresh stool preparation present challenges, making frozen, biobanked stools an attractive alternative. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term viability of bacterial populations in faecal samples stored at -80°C for up to 12 months, supporting the feasibility of using frozen grafts for FMT. METHODS: Fifteen faecal samples from nine healthy donors were processed, mixed with cryoprotectants and stored at -80°C. Samples were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months using quantitative culturing methods to determine the concentration of live bacteria. RESULTS: Quantitative analysis showed no significant decrease in bacterial viability over the 12-month period for both aerobic and anaerobic cultures (p = 0.09). At all timepoints, the coefficients of variability in colony-forming unit (CFU) counts were greater between samples (102 ± 21% and 100 ± 13% for aerobic and anaerobic cultures, respectively) than the variability between measurements of the same sample (30 ± 22% and 30 ± 19%). CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed that faecal microbiota can be preserved with high viability in deep-freeze storage for up to a year, making allogenic FMT from biobanked samples a viable and safer option for patients. However, a multidonor approach may be beneficial to mitigate the risk of viability loss in any single donor sample.

• Klíčová slova
• bacterial viability, cryopreservation, deep‐freeze storage, faecal microbiota transplantation, long‐term stability,
• MeSH
• feces * mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace * metody   MeSH
• kryoprezervace metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální viabilita * MeSH
• zmrazování MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have demonstrated dysbiosis in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Therefore, faecal microbiota transplantation, whose effect and safety have been proven in Clostridioides difficile infections, may hold promise in other conditions, including IBS. Our study will examine the effectiveness of stool transfer with artificially increased microbial diversity in IBS treatment. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A three-group, double-blind,randomised, cross-over, placebo-controlled study of two pairs of gut microbiota transfer will be conducted in 99 patients with diarrhoeal or mixed type of IBS. Patients aged 18-65 will be randomised into three equally sized groups: group A will first receive two enemas of study microbiota mixture (deep-frozen stored stool microbiota mixed from eight healthy donors); after 8 weeks, they will receive two enemas with placebo (autoclaved microbiota mixture), whereas group B will first receive placebo, then microbiota mixture. Finally, group C will receive placebos only. The IBS Severity Symptom Score (IBS-SSS) questionnaires will be collected at baseline and then at weeks 3, 5, 8, 11, 13, 32. Faecal bacteriome will be profiled before and regularly after interventions using 16S rDNA next-generation sequencing. Food records, dietary questionnaires, anthropometry, bioimpedance, biochemistry and haematology workup will be obtained at study visits during the follow-up period. The primary outcome is the change in the IBS-SSS between the baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention for each patient compared with placebo. Secondary outcomes are IBS-SSS at 2 weeks after the intervention and 32 weeks compared with placebo and changes in the number of loose stools, Bristol stool scale, abdominal pain and bloating, anthropometric parameters, psychological evaluation and the gut microbiome composition. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Thomayer University Hospital, Czechia (G-18-26); study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences and patient group meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04899869.

• Klíčová slova
• adult gastroenterology, functional bowel disorders, microbiology,
• MeSH
• dysbióza terapie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace metody   MeSH
• klinické křížové studie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiota * MeSH
• průjem terapie   MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie jako téma MeSH
• syndrom dráždivého tračníku * terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• protokol klinické studie MeSH

The human gut microbiota consists of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. It is a dynamic ecosystem shaped by several factors that play an essential role in both healthy and diseased states of humans. A disturbance of the gut microbiota, also termed "dysbiosis", is associated with increased host susceptibility to a range of diseases. Because of splanchnic ischemia, exposure to antibiotics, and/or the underlying disease, critically ill patients loose 90% of the commensal organisms in their gut within hours after the insult. This is followed by a rapid overgrowth of potentially pathogenic and pro-inflammatory bacteria that alter metabolic, immune, and even neurocognitive functions and that turn the gut into the driver of systemic inflammation and multiorgan failure. Indeed, restoring healthy microbiota by means of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in the critically ill is an attractive and plausible concept in intensive care. Nonetheless, available data from controlled studies are limited to probiotics and FMT for severe C. difficile infection or severe inflammatory bowel disease. Case series and observational trials have generated hypotheses that FMT might be feasible and safe in immunocompromised patients, refractory sepsis, or severe antibiotic-associated diarrhea in ICU. There is a burning need to test these hypotheses in randomized controlled trials powered for the determination of patient-centered outcomes.

• Klíčová slova
• critically ill, fecal microbial transplantation, gut microbiota, multiorgan failure,
• MeSH
• dysbióza epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   terapie   MeSH
• feces mikrobiologie   MeSH
• fekální transplantace metody   MeSH
• idiopatické střevní záněty epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   terapie   MeSH
• kritický stav epidemiologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• průjem epidemiologie   mikrobiologie   terapie   MeSH
• střevní mikroflóra genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging treatment modality, but its current clinical use and organisation are unknown. We aimed to describe the clinical use, conduct, and potential for FMT in Europe. METHODS: We invited all hospital-based FMT centres within the European Council member states to answer a web-based questionnaire covering their clinical activities, organisation, and regulation of FMT in 2019. Responders were identified from trials registered at clinicaltrials.gov and from the United European Gastroenterology (UEG) working group for stool banking and FMT. FINDINGS: In 2019, 31 FMT centres from 17 countries reported a total of 1,874 (median 25, quartile 10-64) FMT procedures; 1,077 (57%) with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) as indication, 791 (42%) with experimental indications, and 6 (0•3%) unaccounted for. Adjusted to population size, 0•257 per 100,000 population received FMT for CDI and 0•189 per 100,000 population for experimental indications. With estimated 12,400 (6,100-28,500) annual cases of multiple, recurrent CDI and indication for FMT in Europe, the current European FMT activity covers approximately 10% of the patients with indication. The participating centres demonstrated high safety standards and adherence to international consensus guidelines. Formal or informal regulation from health authorities was present at 21 (68%) centres. INTERPRETATION: FMT is a widespread routine treatment for multiple, recurrent CDI and an experimental treatment. Embedded within hospital settings, FMT centres operate with high standards across Europe to provide safe FMT. A significant gap in FMT coverage suggests the need to raise clinical awareness and increase the FMT activity in Europe by at least 10-fold to meet the true, indicated need. FUNDING: NordForsk under the Nordic Council and Innovation Fund Denmark (j.no. 8056-00006B).

• Klíčová slova
• Abbreviations: CDI, Clostridioides difficile infection, Clostridioides difficile, ECDC, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, FMT, FMT, Faecal microbiota transplantation, Faecal microbiota transplantation, IQR, Interquartile range, REDCap, Research Data Capture software, SARS-CoV-2, Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Stool banking, UEG, United Gastroenterology European,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH