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

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. The functions of the microflora were determined with gas chromatography, electrophoresis, and spectrophotometry. 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. 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.