The Ethics of Fecal Microbiota Transplant as a Tool for Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs

Abstract

Multidrug resistant organisms (MDROs) are a public health threat that have reduced the effectiveness of many available antibiotics. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) have been tasked with reducing antibiotic use and therefore the emergence of MDROs. While fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) has been proposed as therapy to reduce patient colonization of MDROs, this will require additional evidence to support an expansion of the current clinical indication for FMT. This article discusses the evidence and ethics of the expanded utilization of FMT by ASPs for reasons other than severe recurrent or refractory Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection.