1. Freston Symposium
Fecal Microbiota Therapy (FMT) in the Management of C. difficile Infection (CDI)
Lawrence J. Brandt, MD Emeritus Chief, Gastroenterology
Montefiore Medical Center
Professor of Medicine and Surgery
Albert Einstein College of Medicine

2. Conflicts of Interest
 Cipac: Advisory Board

3. Incidence and Impact of C. difficile
~ 500,000 cases ~ $5 billion in excess costs ~ 30,000 deaths annually
Campbell et al. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009:30: Dubberke et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14:1031-8
Dubberke et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;46: Elixhauser et al. HCUP Statistical Brief #

4. ACG Rx Guidelines for CDI, 2013
Mild-moderate MZ (500 mg po tid) x 10 days ♦ Strong recommend, high qual evid Severe Vanco (125 mg po qid) x 10 days ♦ Cond recommend, mod qual evid if NR Vanco (500 mg po qid) plus MZ (500 mg IV tid) ♦ Strong recommend, mod qual evid Complicated Vanco po ( mg qid) and pr (500 mg in 500 mL qid) plus MZ (500 mg IV tid) if ileus, toxic colitis, distention ♦ Strong recommend, low qual evid consider surgRx if: BP (pressors); sepsis, MOF; MS change; WBC≥50 K, lactate ≥5; no improvement (5d) ♦ Strong recommend, mod qual evid
Am J Gastroenterol, 2013

5. Fidaxomicin vs Vanco Louie TJ et al. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:422-431
CDI - Ciaran P Kelly, MD
4/19/2017
Fidaxomicin vs Vanco
200mg BID x 10 d
125mg QID x 10 d
@28d
? Include ?
Louie TJ et al. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:

6. Fidaxomicin is superior to Vanco for 1st CDI recurrence
CDI - Ciaran P Kelly, MD
4/19/2017
Fidaxomicin is superior to Vanco for 1st CDI recurrence
20% (13/66) recurrence
36% (22/62) recurrence
Cornely, OA et al. CID 2012:55 (Suppl 2);

7. Rifaximin “chaser” for Recurrent CDI
Rifaxamin
Placebo
Outcome
Rifaximin
(n=33)
Placebo
(n=35)
Recurrent diarrhea
21%
49%
P = 0.018
Recurrent CDI
15%
31%
P = 0.11
Standard therapy x days (MZ , 82%; Vanco,18%)
followed by:
Placebo or Rifaximin (400 mg tid x 20 days)
Garey et al. J Antimicrob Chemother 2011

8. Antibody and Vaccine Rx
Antibodies  RDBPC study of fully human monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile toxins A and B
♦ administered as a single infusion (10mg/kg)
♦ 200 patients, receiving abx for active CDI
♦ primary outcome: recurrence w/in 84 days
- antibodies: 7%, placebo: 25% pts with BI/NAP1/027: 8% vs 32%
- pts with prior recurrence: 7% vs 38%
Vaccines  Sanofi announced (Aug 2013) starting late-stage trials (15,000 people) testing C. difficile vaccine
Lowy I et al. N Engl J Med 2010; 362:

9. Non-toxigenic C. difficile (NTCD) Strain VP 20261*
Phase II trial (ViroPharma, Inc)
CDI patients on oral vancomycin
Placebo (n=43)
or NTCD (n=125)
- 104 x 7 days (n=41)
- 107 x 7 days (n=43)
- 107 x 14 days (n=41)
2% CDI recurrence rate in colonized pts
P<0.0001
P<0.01
Despite high rates of success in the treatment of initial infection, CDAD goes on to recur in approximately 20%-30% of patients.13
Each episode of CDAD heightens the risk for recurrence and 45–65% of patients continue to have repeated episodes that may continue over a period of several years.16
References:
13. Pépin J, Alary M-E, Valiquette L, Raiche E, Ruel J, Fulop K, Godin D, Bourassa. Increasing risk of relapse after treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis in Quebec, Canada. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;40(11):
16. McFarland L, Elmer G, Surawicz C. Breaking the cycle: treatment strategies for 163 cases of recurrent Clostridium difficile disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002;97(7): 9

10. Recurrent C.difficile Infection
 15-20% of patients  relapse  re-infection  post-C. difficile IBS  2nd recurrence: 30-45%; 3rd recurrence: 45-60%  Rx failure before 2003 <10%; after 2003 ~20%  Relapses can continue for years  No universal Rx algorithm  Rx recommendations are not evidence-based

11. Recurrent C.difficile Infection Why Do We Get It?
 Impaired host-response  Altered intestinal microbiome

12. Bacteroidetes ~16%
Firmicutes ~76%
Spor A, Koren O, Ley R. Nature Reviews Microbiology, 2011

13. Decreased Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome in Recurrent C.difficile
 Patients with recurrent C.difficile have decreased phylogenetic richness
 Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes are reduced in patients with recurrent C.difficile not in patients with just one episode of C.difficile infection
Chang JY, et al. J Infect Dis 2008:197;435-8

14. Mouse Model for C. difficile-Mediated Dysbiosis... and Successful FMT
Homeostasis
Antibiotic perturbation (clinda x 7d)
Expansion of microbiota
C. difficile (027/B1)
Persistent dysbiosis
Transient dysbiosis
Disrupted dysbiosis ↓ shedding C. difficile
Simplified microbiota ↑ pro-inflammatory genes ↓ butyrate, acetate ↑succinate
Vanco
BacterioRx (6 spp) or FMT
or FMT
Modified from: Lawley TD et al.. PLoS Pathog (2012); 8: e

15. ACG Rx Guidelines for CDI, 2013
Recurrent CDI 1st: Can use same Rx as for initial episode; if severe, use Vanco nd: Pulsed vanco regimen ♦ Cond recommend, low qual evid
3rd: Pulsed-tapered Vanco; (no comparative data) mg daily pulsed Q3D for 10 doses qid  tid  bid  qd regimen
- qid interval dosing (q2d, q3d, q4d) Consider FMT ♦ Cond recommend, low qual evid
Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) may be helpful in hypo-gammaglobulinemic pts ♦ Strong recommend, low qual evid
Am J Gastroenterol, 2013

16. Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT)
 Definition: Instillation of stool from a healthy person into a sick person to cure a certain disease  Rationale: A perturbed imbalance in our intestinal microbiota (dysbiosis) is associated with or causes disease and can be corrected by re-introduction of donor feces

17. Rationale for FMT in Recurrent CDI
 Avoid prolonged, repeated courses of antibiotics
 Re-establish normal diversity of the intestinal microbiome, thus restoring “colonization resistance”

18. Early History of FMT
4th century: Ge Hong described use of human fecal suspension by mouth for food poisoning or severe diarrhea “Zghou Hou Bei Ji Fang” (Handy Therapy for Emergencies)
16th century: Li Shizhen detailed prescriptions of fermented fecal solution, fresh fecal suspension, dry feces or infant feces for abdominal diseases with diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and constipation; “yellow dragon soup” “Ben Cao Gang Mu ” (Compendium of Materia Medica )
17th century: veterinary medicine:  transfaunation (transfer of cecal contents or fresh feces) from healthy horses to treat horses with chronic diarrhea
 rumen transfaunation is used to refaunate cows that have been off-feed because of mastitis or other illness

19. Later History of FMT
 1958: Eismann et al.  4 pts with pseudomembranous colitis (Micrococcus pyogenes) Rxd with FMT enema  1983: Schwann, et al.  CDI Rxd with FMT enema  Other methods of FMT  1991: NG tube (Aas, Gessert, Bakken)  1998: gastroscopy and colonoscopy (Lund-TØnnesen)  2000: colonoscopy (Persky, Brandt)  2010: self-administered enemas (Silverman, Davis, Pillai)

20. Protocol for FMT in Recurrent CDI
POOP
Choose donor  any healthy person  universal donor
Donor exclusions  antibiotic use within 3 months  diarrhea, constipation, IBS, IBD, colorectal CA, immunocompromise, anti-neoplastic drugs, high-risk behaviors: MSMP, recent body piercing or tattoo  other: diabetes, obesity, atopy, ASCVD ? psychologic or mood disorder, neurologic disease...
Donor testing  stool: culture (incl Listeria, Vibrios), O & P, C. difficile, H. pylori Ag, Giardia Ag, cryptosporidium, isospora, norovirus  blood: hepatitis A, B, C, syphilis, HIV 1, 2

21. Protocol for FMT in Recurrent CDI
Recipient  D/C antibiotics 2-3 days before procedure?  Large-volume colonoscopy prep the evening before procedure
 Loperamide before procedure?
Donor  Gentle laxative (e.g., MOM) the night before the procedure?  Freshly passed stool is used within 6 hours  Stool need not be refrigerated

22. Protocol for Colonoscopic FMT in Recurrent CDI
Stool Transplant  Donor stool → suspension with non-bacteriostatic saline  mix by hand  mix by blender  Filtered through gauze into canister  Use of a hood (stool is a level 2 biohazard)  60 cc catheter-tip syringe connected to “suction” tubing  Volume of ~300cc instilled into ascending colon

27. Meta-analysis of Clinical Resolution Rates (11of 2709 reports, 273 patients)
Resolution 90% overall lower: 91% upper: 82% No AEs
Kassam et al . AM J Gastroenterol, 2013

28. FMT for Treatment of CDI: A Systematic Review
Site of FMT
Dose of FMT (mean g/mls)
Success Rate (%)
# of Pts
Stomach /
Duod/Jejunum /
Cecum/Asc Colon /
Distal Colon /
Cammarota G, Ianiro G, Gasbarrini, A. J Clin Gastroenterol, 2014

29. Nasoduodenal FMT for Recurrent CDI: a RCT
Study terminated by DSMB AEs: transient cramping, belching SAEs: none
van Nood E , Vrieze A , Nieuwdorp M et al. N Engl J Med 2013;368:407–15

30. Follow-up Survey 77 patients > 3 months after FMT
 Mean duration of illness: 11 months  Symptomatic response after FMT  mean of 6 days  < 3 days in 74%  Primary cure rate: 91 % Secondary cure rate: 98.7%  97% of patients would have another FMT for recurrent CDI and 58.3 % would choose FMT as their preferred Rx  All late recurrences occurred in setting of subsequent unrelated antibiotics
Brandt LJ, et al. Am J Gastroenterol, 2012

31. Cure Rates and AEs in 146 Patients > 65 years of Age
CDI (n)
Primary cure rate
Secondary cure rate
Transient AEs
Serious AEs
R-CDI (89)
82%
94.4%
11.2%
2.2%
S-CDI (45)
88.8%
97.7%
4.4%
C-CDI (12)
67%
100% 0%
16.6%
Total
(146)
82.8%
95.8%
7.5%
4.1%
This table demonstrates cure rates and adverse events in recurrent, severe and complicated C. difficile infection. Percentages are not statistically different.
I would point out that cure rates and adverse events with FMT in severe and complicated disease are comparable to that in recurrent disease.
Agrawal M, Aroniadis O, Brandt L, et al, DDW, 2014

32. How Do Patients Feel About FMT?
 Hypothetical case scenarios given to clinic attendees (n=192)  efficacy data alone (Floral Reconstitution) (85%)  awareness of fecal nature of FR (81%)  FMT chosen if by pill (90%) or if MD recommended (94%)
 FMT issues found most unappealing  need to handle stool (65%)  receiving FMT by NGT (75%)  women: all aspects of FMT unappealing, “gross” (odor, handling stool)  men: concerned with safety issues  no signif diff in age or education level  older patients: FMT less unappealing
Zipursky, et al. Clin Infect Dis, 2013

33. How Do Physicians Feel About FMT?
 2010 (Kelly et al): 73 physicians  10% had performed FMT or knew a colleague who had
 48% willing to try FMT
 34% unwilling to try FMT
 2013 (Sofi et al): 118 physicians (85 GE, 32 ID)  86% willing to do FMT  9% unwilling to do FMT  need for published Guidelines  concerns for safety
Kelly, ACG meeting 2010; Sofi, Am J Gastroenterol 2013

34. FDA Regulations
Early Fecal microbiota falls within the definition of a biologic product and a drug. Since FMT has not yet been approved by the FDA for any specific clinical indication, it constitutes an investigational agent and requires an Investigational New Drug application (IND) from Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) . 
May, Public workshop on FMT
July, FDA intends to exercise “enforcement discretion” regarding IND requirements for the use of FMT to treat C. difficile infection not responding to standard therapies…provided that the treating physician obtains [appropriate] adequate informed consent . Informed consent should include, at a minimum, a statement that the use of FMT products to treat C. difficile is investigational and a discussion of its potential risks.

35. B. Synthetic stool (33 bacterial strains) from healthy donor
FMT…the next steps
A. Frozen fecal material from a universal donor*
Donor Material N Success* Recurrence
Pt-identified donor /10 (70%) 3/10 (30%)
Std donor, fresh /12 (92%)
Std donor, frozen /21 (90%)
Total /43 (86%) /43 (14%)
3/33 (9%)
4 of 6 patients with RCDI had a 2nd FMT (std donor) all cleared their infection  final success rate of 41/43 (95%)
B. Synthetic stool (33 bacterial strains) from healthy donor
(Repoopulate) # 
2 patients cured of RCDI
C. 3 strains of Bacteroides (ovatus, fragilis, thetaiotaomicron) 
1 patient cured of RCDI
D. Poop pills%: 27 patients took pills  all cured of RCDI
*Hamilton, et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2012;
# Petrov ,, et al. Microbiome 2013;  Graham, ACG. 2013
%Thomas Louie, Univ of Calgary; ID week, 2013

36. Therapeutic unit of full-spectrum microbiota
Petrof EO, Khoruts A. Gastroenterology 2014

37. Anatomy of a Robogut
Petrof EO, Khoruts A. Gastroenterology 2014

38. Fecal Microbial Transplant Consortium Single strain
Lactate Producers
SCFA Producers
Methanogens
Mucin Degraders
Bioactive Molecule
Fecal Microbial Transplant
Consortium
Single strain
Specificity
Ecosystem Effects
Modfied from Olle, B. Nature Biotechnology, 2013

39. Safety and Ethical Concerns
 Acute infections  bacterial, viral, parasitic  colonic, systemic  Acute allergic reactions
Minor
 Long-term concerns  is it possible that we are predisposing the recipient to (some, all) of the diseases /conditions that the donor will develop in his/her lifetime?  have we created a microbiomic clone of the donor?  for how long will the donor microbiota populate the recipient’s colon?

40. Future Areas of Investigation
 Indications  CDI: severe, complicated disease? 1st occurrence?  other GI diseases: IBD, IBS, constipation  non-GI diseases: diabetes, obesity, Parkinson’s, MS, autism?
 Route and means of administration
 Safety and ethical concerns:  short-term: infections, allergies  long-term: diseases of the donor, altered microbiota
 Product development  processed stool → spec strains ± bioactive molecules

41. Solutions
 Use the safest product possible  stool is most problematic  stool-derived product from volunteer population is probably safer  bioengineered (commercial) product is safest  Monitor results carefully  national registry for all FMT

42. Take Home Points  Fidaxomicin is effective
 Current guidelines are rational and initial routine care should be concordant with these recommendations
 Fidaxomicin is effective
 FMT has reached a “critical mass” and is likely the most appropriate salvage therapy currently available for multiply recurrent CDI  More robust (RCTs) data are needed.  Concern for long-term sequelae
 FMT will be replaced by bioengineered product(s)

43. THE END