TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taichung Veterans General Hospital said it used fecal microbiota transplantation to help a 56-year-old man surnamed Lin (林) who had 10 months of diarrhea and bloody stools, while also using the method to help long-term bedridden patients improve gut health, UDN reported.
The method involves filtering and purifying stool from healthy donors to extract beneficial gut microbes, which are then transplanted into the intestines of people with gut issues to restore microbial balance.
At a Thursday press conference, Tseng Ching-tang (曾敬棠), a gastroenterologist at the hospital, said the transplanted microbes can help suppress the growth of harmful gut bacteria. He emphasized that the hospital’s team follows standardized procedures for donor screening, fecal microbiota processing, and transplantation.
The hospital said the method has been approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare as a treatment option for certain severe gut diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome.
The hospital also shared Lin’s case. He had been bedridden for more than 30 years because of a spinal injury, leading to repeated skin infections. His gut microbiota also became imbalanced after antibiotic treatment.
Clostridioides difficile, a type of harmful gut bacteria, is commonly seen in people who are bedridden for long periods or repeatedly use antibiotics. Without proper treatment, it may damage the intestinal lining and even lead to complications such as bowel perforation or sepsis, Tseng said.
The hospital team used endoscopy to transplant healthy gut microbes, which significantly improved Lin's gut health, Tseng said. While antibiotics can treat infections, they may also disrupt gut bacteria and allow harmful bacteria to grow in the intestines.
Up to 90% of individuals with gut issues may see improvement after the transplantation, with a low chance of symptoms returning, Tseng said. He added that about 20% of people may experience temporary abdominal discomfort following the procedure.
