WHAT THE CRAAP?

What is an FMT and how is it being used for treatment?

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is an investigative treatment for those suffering from recurrent antibiotic-resistant C. difficile infection. During a fecal transplant, stool from a healthy donor is screened and transplanted into the colon of the patient. The stool sample can be administered through multiple routes including naso-enteric tube, capsules, and colonoscopy. The goal behind this treatment is to repopulate the patient’s healthy microbiome that inhibits the growth of C. difficile. Since the microbiome experienced dysbiosis during antibiotic treatment, the healthy gut community that normally competes with C. difficile, needs to be regrown. Without this bacteria, C. difficile is able to establish itself within the gut of patient causing abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, and fever.

Check out the latest updates on the proposal to get FMT approved by the FDA.

What diseases may be helped by manipulating the microbiota?

Researcher’s are also exploring the effects of FMT on other gastrointestinal diseases including Chron’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Although the exact cause of these diseases is unknown, deregulation of the immune response against healthy gut bacteria may contribute to the onset and perpetuation of certain gastrointestinal diseases. For example, in a study examining the role of gut bacteria in health and disease patients with Chron’s disease were found to have a low amount of F. prausnitzii, a bacteria which has known anti-inflammatory properties. An excessive amount of Desulfovibrio species was also found in those with ulcerative colitis. This species of bacteria can have pathogenic consequences due to its ability to generate sulfides. Other factors including genes and environmental factors play major roles in these diseases; however, studying the microbiome allows insight and hopeful relief for those suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.

Oh, CRAAP

The CRAAP Test, developed by Sarah Blakeslee, of the University of California, is used to properly assess how reliable and accurate a resource is. Each component of the system offers insight on how to evaluate a resource by examining:

Currency: Consider the date of publication. Is the information and resource recent? Checking the currency is important in making sure that the information is the most present and up to date research or idea.

Relevance: Sources should be relevant to the topic being discussed. Although some links may not fully encompass all of the ideas that you want to present, making sure that they are related is important to keep your ideas focused.

Authority: Is the author an expert? Having a Ph. Din microbiology doesn’t mean that you are a rocket scientist.

Accuracy: Correctness is key.

Purpose: Always check for bias. Sources can be written for many reasons including for entertainment, education, or persuasion. Understanding the purpose allows you to analyze any potential underlying motives.

The articles chosen for this post were evaluated using the CRAAP guidelines. The link pertaining to the study was written by doctors and microbiologists and reported on the gut bacteria pertaining to gastrointestinal diseases. Their purpose was to explore the dysbiosis within the intestines of patients suffering from different diseases. The article was published within the last 5 years, although more recent studies could show updates to their findings. The link pertaining to the FMT policy was created by a nonprofit stool bank that looks to expand access to fecal transplants by conducting research on the human microbiome. Although one could argue for underlying bias, openBiome lists all of the studies that have been published and their sources. They continue to update their website as studies are published and any updates on the regulation of fecal transplant use.