Prospects and challenges for intestinal microbiome therapy in pediatric gastrointestinal disorders

Abstract

Fecal microbiome (microbiota) transplantation is an emerging treatment not only for refractory/recurrent Clostridium difficile infections and chronic gastrointestinal diseases, but also for metabolic syndrome, and even possibly for neurological disorders. This non-conventional therapy has been perhaps more appropriately designated as fecal bacteriotherapy (FB) as well. The employment of FB is spreading into pediatric gastroenterology. This focused review highlights the pediatric applications of FB and discusses hypotheses for its mechanism of action. We propose that intestinal microbiome therapy may be a more appropriate term for FB, which integrates its potential future applications.

Keywords: Microbiome, Fecal transplant, Children, Inflammatory bowel disease, Ulcerative colitis, Clostridium difficile

Core tip: This review provides a focused overview of fecal bacteriotherapy and discusses possible mechanisms of action for this unconventional treatment. It also highlights the challenges, which this therapy faces.