A Randomized Controlled Trial of Efficacy and Safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplant for Preventing Recurrent <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Infection
Dimitri Drekonja, Aasma Shaukat, Yuan Huang, Jane H. Zhang, Andrew R. Reinink, Sean Nugent, Jason A. Dominitz, Anne Davis‐Karim, Dale N. Gerding, Tassos C. Kyriakides
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is the most common cause of healthcare-associated infections in US hospitals, with 15%-30% of patients experiencing recurrence. The aim of our randomized, double-blind clinical trial was to assess the efficacy of capsule-delivered fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) versus placebo in reducing recurrent diarrhea and CDI recurrence. The secondary aim was FMT safety assessment. METHODS: Between 2018 and 2022, Veterans across the Veterans Health Administration system with recurrent CDI who responded to antibiotic treatment were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to oral FMT or placebo capsules. Randomization was stratified by number of prior CDI recurrences (1 or ≥2). The primary endpoint was clinical recurrence by day 56, defined as >3 unformed stools daily for ≥2 days with or without laboratory confirmation of C. difficile, or death within 56 days. RESULTS: The study was stopped due to futility after meeting prespecified criteria. Of 153 participants (76 FMT, 77 placebo) with an average age of 66.5 years, 25 participants (32.9%) in the FMT arm and 23 (29.9%) in the placebo arm experienced the primary endpoint of diarrhea and possible or definite CDI recurrence or death within 56 days of capsule administration (absolute difference, 3.0% [95% confidence interval, -11.7% to 17.7%]). Stratification by number of recurrences revealed no statistically significant differences. There were no clinically important differences in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: FMT therapy versus placebo did not reduce CDI recurrence or death at 56 days. There were no meaningful differences in adverse events between treatment groups. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03005379.