The effect of faecal enema on five microflora-associated characteristics in patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD) show significant disturbances in short-chain fatty acid pattern. In the present study five more microflora-associated characteristics (MACs) were investigated before and after administration of an enema containing faecal microflora from a healthy person on a Western diet. METHODS: The functions of the microflora were determined with gas chromatography, electrophoresis, and spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The conversion of cholesterol to coprostanol and the concentration of urobilinogen and trypsin were significantly reduced in comparison with healthy persons. The pattern of mucin was altered, but beta-aspartylglycine remained the same as in healthy persons. Enema treatment influenced these functions to different extents. CONCLUSION: Most MACs were significantly disturbed in patients with AAD. Administration of a human faecal enema modified these changes and relieved diarrhoea, usually within 4 days.