Seven years of stool banking: clinical and microbiological insights from the Ghent Stool Bank.

Abstract

Objectives: The Ghent Stool Bank (GSB) was founded in 2018 at Ghent University Hospital to provide safe, ready-to-use faecal suspensions for faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), primarily targeting recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) and supporting clinical trials.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study explores the relationship between donor characteristics and rCDI treatment outcomes following FMT.

Results: Between 2018 and 2024, 12.0% of screened candidates qualified as donors after rigorous evaluation, resulting in 159 approved donations. Forty-four FMT procedures were carried out in forty rCDI patients, achieving a primary cure rate of 77.1%, which increased to 85.7% following a second treatment. Donor microbiome diversity did not show association with treatment outcomes, and no statistically significant differences in taxa abundance were observed. Notably, faecal suspensions stored for up to five years were as effective as those stored for shorter periods. Additionally higher donor age did not appear to negatively impact treatment success in rCDI patients.

Conclusion: These findings support the role of stool banks like the GSB in ensuring safe FMT procedures. Allowing higher donor age and longer storage periods may help sustain sufficient high‑quality donor availability. Future efforts should focus on improving safety, enhancing donor-recipient compatibility through microbiome profiling and increasing public awareness.