Abstract:
Background: While ongoing studies confirm the effectiveness of fecal
Bacteriotherapy as a treatment option for recurrent Clostridium Difficile
Infections, limited information has been collected regarding the patient’s
perception of the procedure and whether perceived benefits of the procedure
outweigh the repugnance of the process. Methods: This study used
retrospective quasi-experimental design examining patients’ impressions of
the short-term (2-10 days post procedure) and long-term (over 3 months)
effectiveness of fecal Bacteriotherapy along with patient satisfaction with
fecal Bacteriotherapy. Consecutive sampling methods of 34 patients who
underwent fecal Bacteriotherapy from 2009 to 2012 resulted in 28 eligible
respondents based on criteria of being 3 months post procedure and
cognitively able to complete the questionnaire. Questionnaire developed in
collaboration with gastrointestinal specialist and utilized 0-10 rating scale for
questions regarding pain (0=no pain, 10 worst pain ever), nausea (0=no
nausea, 10= severe nausea) and patient satisfaction (0=least satisfied/least
likely, 10=most satisfied/very likely), dichotomous (Yes/No) questions for
long-term results, and checklist questions for stool frequency. 28
questionnaires sent with 20 returned (71%). Results: Average age of
respondent was 67 years (+/- 13.98) and female to male ratio 15:5. Short-term
outcomes: Abdominal pain score averages dropped from 6.5 to 1.7; nausea
average scores dropped from 4 to 1.2; and at 10 days post procedure, 100%
respondents had less than 4 stools per day. Long-term outcomes: At 3 months
or longer post procedure, 17 of 20 (85%) had no further episodes of diarrhea
requiring physician or hospital visit; 17 of 20 (85%) had no further nausea
requiring physician or hospital visit; 18 of 20 (90%) had no further abdominal
cramping requiring physician or hospital visit. Patient satisfaction: Average
satisfaction score with overall results of procedure was 9.6 (+/- 1.10) average
satisfaction score in regards to cost associated with procedure was 9.6 (+/-
1.27); average satisfaction score regarding facility was 9.9 (+/- 0.31); and
likelihood to recommend procedure to family/friend was 9.9 (+/- 0.45).
Conclusion: Results of study suggests patients are very satisfied with fecal
Bacteriotherapy as treatment for Clostridium Difficile colitis despite the
procedure’s anticipated repugnance. Patients also reported significant
improvement in long-term and short-term symptomolog