Published online Sep 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12687
Revised: May 7, 2014
Accepted: June 12, 2014
Published online: September 21, 2014
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.
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.