FDA Approves Poop to Treat Diarrhea: REBYOTA
Let your shit be the savior for someone!
Source: Knowyourmeme.com
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Rebyota, the first fecal microbiota product approved by the agency. Rebyota (Ferring Pharmaceutical) is approved for the prevention of the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in individuals 18 years of age and older. It is for use after an individual has completed antibiotic treatment for recurrent CDI.
Today’s approval of Rebyota is an advance in caring for patients who have recurrent C. difficile infection. Recurrent CDI impacts an individual’s quality of life and can also potentially be life-threatening. As the first FDA-approved fecal microbiota product, today’s action represents an important milestone, as it provides an additional approved option to prevent recurrent CDI. -Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
What is in our digestive tract?
The gut microbiome is a complex ecosystem of microorganisms living in the digestive tract. It includes bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi, and protozoa. The microbiome plays an essential role in maintaining health and preventing disease by helping to regulate metabolism, digestion, immunity, nutrition, and more. Research has shown that the gut microbiome is associated with a variety of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), allergies, mental health issues, and cancer. It has also been linked to cognitive performance and overall well-being.
Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash
Why does C. difficile cause diarrhea?
C. difficile is one of the bacteria in the gut flora. This bacteria can produce toxins leading to diarrhea. Fortunately, the healthy gut flora keeps a check on the growth of C. difficile. Therefore, a person with a healthy balance of gut flora does not get sick with C. difficile. However, when the gut flora is disturbed due to antibiotic therapy, sickness, or some other cause can lead to the overgrowth of C. difficile. This can lead to overproduction of the toxin, leading to the manifestation of really difficult-to-treat diarrhea that may lead to death.
C. difficile is a superbug and can resist the majority of antibiotics! C. difficile can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. It is a very common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and it is an increasing public health concern in the United States. Every year almost 15,000 to 30,000 people die in USA due to C. difficile-related diarrhea.