Fecal Transplant Program at MGH Advances Treatment for Gut Infections

Ongoing research and clinical work at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) focus on fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a method to address severe gut infections, particularly recurrent C. difficile.

Elizabeth L. Hohmann serves as a staff physician and associate professor in the Infectious Diseases Division at MGH, where she directs the FMT core laboratory. Over the past 15 years, she has overseen the development of stool-based therapies, including frozen capsule formulations designed for patients with persistent C. difficile infections.

Hohmann’s team prepares frozen stool capsules using material from carefully screened donors. The screening process is rigorous, with only about 1% of potential donors qualifying after health evaluations that exclude those at higher risk of carrying multidrug-resistant organisms.

These frozen capsules are administered to patients with severe gut infections, such as recurrent or refractory colitis, as part of the treatment protocol at MGH. The approach aims to restore healthy gut bacteria in individuals who have not responded to standard therapies.

What the numbers show

• About 1% of potential stool donors are accepted after screening
• Frozen donor stool cured approximately 90% of recurrent C. difficile cases in a study
• Over 400 patients with recurrent or refractory colitis have received FMT capsules at MGH

Earlier research led by Hohmann and her colleagues evaluated the effectiveness of frozen donor stool delivered by nasogastric tube compared to fresh material administered by colonoscopy. The findings showed similar outcomes for both methods in treating recurrent C. difficile infections.

In the referenced study, a single dose of frozen donor stool resulted in recovery for about 90% of patients with recurrent C. difficile infection. This outcome has been confirmed by multiple research groups.

Hohmann’s laboratory has treated more than 400 individuals with FMT capsules for recurrent or refractory colitis, reporting high rates of success in these cases. The program continues to refine donor screening and treatment protocols based on ongoing research and clinical experience.

The screening criteria for stool donors remain strict, focusing on minimizing the risk of transmitting resistant bacteria. This ensures that only the healthiest candidates are selected to provide material for FMT procedures at MGH.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.