Introduction
Each year, millions of Americans are infected with Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs), accounting for approximately 15,000 fatalities per year. When the diarrhea caused by the infection becomes severe, life-threatening complications may arise. Treatments are usually done with antibiotics, but with the rise of a newer and more virulent strain of C. diff, medications have become less effective. So to help combat the CDI epidemic, an old treatment called fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is being revived. With this new treatment and the ramifications of CDIs, nurses must understand their role on the prevention of CDIs, patient education, and FMT procedure (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.51).
Clostridium difficile infections …show more content…
Treatments include oral or intravenous antibiotics, such as metronidazole for mild cases of CDI, vancomycin for mild-to-severe, and fidaxomicin if patient has resistance to vancomycin. If CDI recurrence occur, fecal microbiota transplant may be recommended but only after the third reoccurrence. FMT allows for normalization of the gut flora, restoration of balance in the patient’s metabolism, and stimulation of immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.55-56).
Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Fecal microbiota transplant allows for normalization of the gut flora, restoration of balance in the patient’s metabolism, and stimulation of immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been used for centuries in China, for decades in many other countries, and since the 1950s in the United States. Up to date there has been approximately 500 patients treated with FMT in the U.S. Depending on the method of administration, success rates of FMT range from 73% to 100% (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.57). …show more content…
difficile infection is definitely a concerning issue that requires more attention in the healthcare setting and in the community. With a newer hyper virulent strain, which causes more than 15,000 deaths each year, new treatments need to be considered. The answer to this CDI epidemic may just be the FMT. Although, long term effects are yet unknown, FMT has produced great results for patients with recurrent CDIs. Because of this, nurses should be aware of this option for patient and be able to educate their patients on the process. Nurses should also recognize their roles during FMT procedure and post-procedural care, as well as in prevention of
Each year, millions of Americans are infected with Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs), accounting for approximately 15,000 fatalities per year. When the diarrhea caused by the infection becomes severe, life-threatening complications may arise. Treatments are usually done with antibiotics, but with the rise of a newer and more virulent strain of C. diff, medications have become less effective. So to help combat the CDI epidemic, an old treatment called fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is being revived. With this new treatment and the ramifications of CDIs, nurses must understand their role on the prevention of CDIs, patient education, and FMT procedure (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.51).
Clostridium difficile infections …show more content…
Treatments include oral or intravenous antibiotics, such as metronidazole for mild cases of CDI, vancomycin for mild-to-severe, and fidaxomicin if patient has resistance to vancomycin. If CDI recurrence occur, fecal microbiota transplant may be recommended but only after the third reoccurrence. FMT allows for normalization of the gut flora, restoration of balance in the patient’s metabolism, and stimulation of immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.55-56).
Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Fecal microbiota transplant allows for normalization of the gut flora, restoration of balance in the patient’s metabolism, and stimulation of immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. It has been used for centuries in China, for decades in many other countries, and since the 1950s in the United States. Up to date there has been approximately 500 patients treated with FMT in the U.S. Depending on the method of administration, success rates of FMT range from 73% to 100% (Boyle, Ruth-Sahd, Zhou, 2015, p.57). …show more content…
difficile infection is definitely a concerning issue that requires more attention in the healthcare setting and in the community. With a newer hyper virulent strain, which causes more than 15,000 deaths each year, new treatments need to be considered. The answer to this CDI epidemic may just be the FMT. Although, long term effects are yet unknown, FMT has produced great results for patients with recurrent CDIs. Because of this, nurses should be aware of this option for patient and be able to educate their patients on the process. Nurses should also recognize their roles during FMT procedure and post-procedural care, as well as in prevention of