In a scientific win for poop, a new phase 3 trial out of Norway found that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—yes, a literal poop enema—performed slightly better than the go-to antibiotic vancomycin in treating Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI).
Researchers found FMT to be noninferior (that’s doctor-speak for “basically just as good, or a bit better”) and possibly a gentler first-line treatment than antibiotics. This could be a game-changer in how we treat gut chaos—and a step toward embracing the full healing power of… other people’s poop.
Related: Seres and Nestle makes poop pills to replace antibiotics
If this sounds familiar, that’s because Green Prophet has been covering the rise of fecal transplants like a proud microbiome mama. From our early report on how gut bacteria can control your mood (and maybe your destiny) to the Israeli startup making synthetic poop capsules for people who’d rather swallow than squirt, we’ve been watching this digestive revolution unfold. But we prefer before you rush to medicine, to eat what fermentation doc, Sandor Katz recommends –– and that’s eating fermented food.
Now, with Norwegian researchers giving the royal flush to vancomycin, we may soon be saying goodbye to antibiotics and hello to artisanal, farm-to-bum therapies.
Related: Wombats have cube-shaped poop
Let’s not forget the bigger message here: modern medicine is slowly realizing what your grandmother and your compost bin always knew—shit matters. Whether you’re nurturing your gut with probiotic yogurt or contemplating a fresh stool smoothie, the path to health might not be lined with roses, but with microbes.
As the future of medicine continues to smell a little funny, we’ll keep digging into the science of sustainable solutions—one scoop at a time. ?
