A Conversation for The Campaign to Promote Respect for Microbes: An Awareness Program

Faecal Transplants

Post 1

BigAl Patron Saint of Left Handers Keeper of the Glowing Pickle and Monobrows

I've just been reading about faecal transplants (New Scientist, 18/12/2010)which describes the process of administering faeces from another person (usually a relative)into the colon, either by means of an enema or per os. This re-introduces normalgut flora which then outcompete problematic bacteria such as Clostridium difficile.
Apparently the number of microrganisms in the human gut is about 10 times the number of cells that make up the human body, which contains about 100 trillion cells. The metabolic activities performed by these bacteria resemble those of an organ, leading some scientists to liken gut bacteria to an organ system in its own right. Amazing!


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