Potential biomarkers to predict outcome of faecal microbiota transfer for recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has proven high clinical efficacy in the management of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) with cure rates of over 80% after a single treatment. Nevertheless, the reasons for failure in the remaining 20% remain elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate different potential predictors of response to FMT.

METHODS: Faecal specimens of sixteen patients undergoing FMT for rCDI, as well as samples from the respective donors were collected and analyzed by 16S rRNA gene profiling, bile acid-inducible (baiCD) gene specific qPCR, and liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to quantify the concentrations of primary and secondary bile acids.

RESULTS: Using the faecal concentration of the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA)within the patient specimens, we were able to predict response to FMT (accuracy 95.2%, sensitivity 100%, specificity 90.9%). By combining the faecal LCA concentration with the urinary pCS concentration, an accuracy of 100% was achieved.

CONCLUSION: LCA appears to be a promising marker candidate for prediction of clinical response to FMT. Other makers, such as urinary concentration of pCS, but not 3-IS, might be used to improve accuracy of prediction. Further studies are warranted to validate these candidate markers.