Washed microbiota transplantation for ribotype 027 Clostridioides difficile infection in a pregnant woman with a two-year follow-up : a case report

Abstract

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is one of the major causes of nosocomial infections. Pregnant women, who are generally considered at low risk for C. difficile infection (CDI), have attracted attention because of an increasing number of reports. Oral vancomycin, the only first-line treatment for pregnant women infected with C. difficile, has been associated with increasing strain resistance, leading to decreased efficacy. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is recommended for severe, fulminant, and recurrent CDI; however, it is generally avoided in pregnant women because of safety concerns. We report a case of a pregnant woman with a primary ribotype 027 CDI who experienced a successful outcome with washed microbiota transplantation (WMT), an improved form of FMT, via enema. The specific strain of ribotype 027 is related to severe outcomes but has not previously been reported in pregnant women. The follow-up lasted for two years, during which the patient's diarrhea was fully alleviated without recurrence. The baby showed normal growth and development, and no adverse events were recorded for either. This case provides evidence for the efficacy and safety of WMT in pregnant women infected with C. difficile, indicating that WMT via enema may be a viable therapeutic strategy for this population for treating CDI.