Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2014; 20(35): 12687-12690
Published online Sep 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12687
A case of Clostridium difficile infection complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with fecal microbiota transplantation
Ji Eun Kim, Tae-Geun Gweon, Chang Dong Yeo, Young-Seok Cho, Gi Jun Kim, Jae Young Kim, Jong Wook Kim, Hyunho Kim, Hye Won Lee, Taeseok Lim, Hyoju Ham, Hyun Jin Oh, Yeongbok Lee, Jaeho Byeon, Sung Soo Park
Ji Eun Kim, Gi Jun Kim, Jae Young Kim, Jong Wook Kim, Hyunho Kim, Hye Won Lee, Taeseok Lim, Hyoju Ham, Hyun Jin Oh, Yeongbok Lee, Jaeho Byeon, Sung Soo Park, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary’s hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, South Korea
Tae-Geun Gweon, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Seoul 137-701, South Korea
Chang Dong Yeo, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Gyeonggi 480-821, South Korea
Young-Seok Cho, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, Gyeonggi 480-821, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim JE and Gweon TG wrote the paper; Gweon TG, Cho YS, Kim GJ, Kim JY and Byeon J conducted fecal microbiota transplantation; Yeo CD, Kim JW and Kim H contributed to ventilator care; Lee HW, Lim T, Ham H and Park SS collected data; Oh HJ and Lee Y conducted language editing; Gweon TG and Yeo CD edited the paper and approved the final version.
Correspondence to: Chang Dong Yeo, MD, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, College of Medicine, 65-1, Geumodong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi 480-821, South Korea. brainyeo@catholic.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-31-8203893 Fax: +82-31-8472719
Received: April 4, 2014
Revised: May 7, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: September 21, 2014
Abstract

Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a life-threatening disorder caused mainly by pneumonia. Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common nosocomial diarrheal disease. Disruption of normal intestinal flora by antibiotics is the main risk factor for CDI. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for serious medical conditions can make it difficult to treat CDI complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome. Fecal microbiota transplantation is a highly effective treatment in patients with refractory CDI. Here we report on a patient with refractory CDI and acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by pneumonia who was treated with fecal microbiota transplantation.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile infection, Acute respiratory distress syndrome, Fecal microbiota transplantation

Core tip: Mechanical ventilation is the main supportive treatment option in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, which makes it difficult to perform fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome. This case report demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation can be considered as a treatment for refractory CDI infection caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome.