Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41081988›Full record

SynthesisEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2026

Safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation versus antibiotics for treating clostridioides difficile infection: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Adnan Bhat, Areesha Mansoor, Marhaba Fatima, Ajay Kumar, Tahreem Mari, Ahila Ali, Kinza Bakht, Allah Dad, Rubab Zahra, Vatsal Makhija and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Adnan BhatUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, United States of America.
Areesha MansoorDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. itsareeshamansoor@gmail.com.
Marhaba FatimaPeople's University for Medical and Health Science for Women, Nawabshah, Pakistan.
Ajay KumarIsra University Faculty of Medical and Allied Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Pakistan.
Tahreem MariDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Ahila AliDow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Kinza BakhtSheikh Zayed Medical College, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.
Allah DadMayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States of America.
Rubab ZahraAllama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
Vatsal MakhijaJawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Belagavi, India.
Frederick Seacrest SouthwickUniversity of Florida, Gainesville, United States of America.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRecurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a persistent clinical challenge due to the high rate of relapse following treatment with standard antibiotics. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising alternative, with comparable results. Aiming to restore intestinal microbial balance and reduce recurrence. Comparative evidence on the efficacy and safety of FMT versus antibiotics remains variable across studies, warranting a comprehensive synthesis to guide clinical decision-making.

aimThis systematic review and meta-analysis aims to present an updated comparison of the effectiveness and safety of FMT versus Vancomycin/ fidaxomicin in patients with CDI.

methodsA comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials comparing FMT with standard antibiotic therapy for recurrent CDI. Primary outcomes included resolution of infection, recurrence, mortality, and adverse events. A random-effects model was used to calculate risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using the I-squared statistic. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias version 2 and ROBINS-1 tools.

resultsA total of 9 clinical trials involving 759 patients were included. FMT was significantly more effective in resolving CDI compared to antibiotic therapy, with a risk ratio (RR) of 1.51 (95% CI: 1.29 to 1.78). Recurrence rates were significantly lower in the FMT group, with a RR of 0.38 (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.50). Mortality did not differ significantly between groups (RR = 0.95). Adverse events (AEs) were comparable between FMT and antibiotics, and no serious AEs directly related to FMT were reported. In the subgroup analysis, the lower GI route adminstration showed significant results (p = 0.02) for both recurrence and resolution of CDI.

conclusionFMT is more effective than standard antibiotic therapy for achieving resolution and reducing recurrence in patients with recurrent CDI.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsClostridium InfectionsFecal Microbiota TransplantationClostridioides difficileFidaxomicinHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecurrenceTreatment OutcomeVancomycinAnti-Bacterial AgentsFidaxomicinVancomycinAntibioticsCDIClostridioides difficileFecal Microbiota TransplantFidaxomicinFMTVancomycin

Identifiers

PMID41081988

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.