The Italian National Faecal Microbiota Transplantation Program: a coordinated effort against Clostridioides difficile infection.

Abstract

Clostridioides (previously Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, whose symptoms range from mild diarrhea to life-threatening pseudomembranous colitis. CDI is characterized by significant recurrence rate following initial resolution and recurrent C. difficile infection (rCDI) represents an onerous burden for the healthcare systems. Conventional antibiotic-based approaches are generally used for the treatment of rCDI but the effective therapy remains elusive. Recently, the faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an alternative therapeutic strategy against rCDI, with high treatment success rate. In 2018, the Italian National FMT Program was launched, with the aim to provide high quality standards in FMT application to adults with rCDI not responding to antibiotic therapy. Here, we sketch out the key characteristics and the progress of the Italian National FMT Program during the COVID-19 pandemic.