What nurses need to know about fecal microbiota transplantation: education, assessment, and care for children and young adults

Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging experimental therapy for treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. In the future, FMT has the potential to be a treatment modality in other diseases that involve gut dysbiosis. As use of FMT is likely to expand, pediatric nurses need a clear understanding of FMT to provide appropriate education, assessment, and care for these patients. Pediatric research and clinical nurses are a resource to help children and parents understand the procedure. Important topics include donor screening, patient assessment before, during, and after treatment; routes of administration and positioning; preparation for discharge and followup evaluation.

Keywords: Clinical research nurse; Clostridium difficile; Fecal microbiota transplantation; Nursing assessment; Nursing care; Patient education; Ulcerative colitis.