Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Randomized Clinical Trial: Single Versus Multiple-infusion Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Severe Clostridium Difficile Infection
Brief Summary: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is acknowledged as a highly effective treatment for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Usually single fecal infusion achieves satisfactory cure rates of recurrent CDI). However, several retrospective studies show that severe clinical picture of recurrent CDI is a risk factor for the failure of single-infusion FMT, suggesting that multiple fecal infusions are required to cure this condition.

This is an open-label randomized clinical trial aiming to assess if multiple-infusion FMT is more effective than single-infusion FMT in curing severe CDI


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with recurrent or relapsing CDI defined as EITHER(13):

  * At least three episodes of mild-to-moderate CDI and failure of a 6-8 week taper with vancomycin with or without an alternative antibiotic (e.g. rifaximin, nitazoxanide).
  * At least two episodes of severe CDI resulting in hospitalization and associated with significant morbidity.
* Willingness to accept risk of unrelated donor stool
* Willingness to be randomized to NGT vs. colonoscopic delivery.
* Able to consent for self, or parental assent/child assent as age appropriate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Anatomic contraindication to NGT
* Delayed gastric emptying syndrome
* Known chronic aspiration
* Contraindication to colonoscopy (ASA 4 or more)
* High risk of bacterial translocation (Immunosuppression, cirrhosis etc)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women
* Acute unrelated infection or comorbid illness exaccerbation
B: Inclusion criteria:

* Recurrent C. difficile infection (identified by positivity of C. difficile toxin in stools) with severe clinical picture (defined by the ESCMID Guidelines published in 2014 - Debast et al, Clin Microbiol Infect 2014)
* Possibility to undergo standard antimicrobial therapy for recurrent C. difficile infection Approval of informed consent
* Possibility to undergo protocol diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
* Stool negativity for parasites
* Stool negativity for Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and other microorganisms except for C. difficile
* Blood negativity for: Hepatitis A virus-Immunoglobulin M, HBsAg, Anti-Hepatitis C Virus, Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus1-2, venereal disease reaction level (VDRL).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects \<18 years old
* Prior colectomy
* Negativity of C. difficile toxin in stools
* Mild clinical picture of C. difficile infection
* High risk of post-colonoscopy complications
* Other main gastrointestinal diseases (es. Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
* Stool positivity for parasites
* Stool positivity for Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and other microorganisms except for C. difficile
* Blood positivity for: Hepatitis A virus-Immunoglobulin M, HBsAg, Anti-Hepatitis C Virus, Anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus1-2, venereal disease reaction level (VDRL).
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
* Inability to follow protocol procedures
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult outpatients (age ≥18 and \<75) referred to one of the study centers after suffering a third (or further) documented episode CDI and
2. who have failed to maintain CDI cure after standard therapy with oral vancomycin.

   * Previous treatment with at least one course of tapered/pulse dose vancomycin as per SHEA-IDSA C difficile treatment guidelines or -Inability to taper or stop vancomycin without developing diarrhea requiring anti-infective therapy. -

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who are aged 75 years or greater.
* Patients who are pregnant
* Patients who are nursing
* Patients who are incarcerated
* Patients with cognitive impairment or severe neuropsychiatric co morbidities who are incapable of giving their own informed consent
* Patients who are immunocompromised specifically:
* HIV infection (any CD4 count)
* AIDS-defining diagnosis or CD4\<200/mm3
* Inherited/primary immune disorders
* Immunodeficient or Immunosuppressed due to medical condition/medication:
* Current or recent (\<3 most) treatment with anti-neoplastic agent
* Current or recent (\<3 mos) treatment with any immunosuppressant medications (including but not limited to monoclonal antibodies to B and T cells, anti-TNF agents, glucocorticoids, antimetabolites (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine), calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, cyclosporine), mycophenolate mofetil). Subjects who are otherwise immunocompetent and have discontinued any immunosuppressant medications 3 or more months prior to enrollment may be eligible to enroll.
* Patients with a history of severe (anaphylactic) food allergy
* Patients who have previously undergone FMT
* Patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo colonoscopy
* Patients with untreated, in-situ colorectal cancer
* Patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn"s disease or microscopic colitis) or irritable bowel syndrome
* Unable to comply with protocol requirements
* Patients who are American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Physical Status classification IV and V
* Patients with acute illness or fever on the day of planned FMT will be excluded (not undergo randomization or treatment with FMT) with the option of including that subject at a future date.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Group "R":- recurrent CDI;- positive stool toxin test within 72 hours before enrolment
* Group "F":- first (initial) episode of CDI;- enrolled patient falls in at least one of the following categories:high risk of recurrence or high risk of developing severe CDI or severe or life-threatening CDI;- patient requires hospitalization or CDI occurs during a hospital stay;- persisting symptoms despite least 72 hours of adequate antibiotic treatment;-positive stool CD toxin test obtained within 72 hours before screening;- in all cases, primary consideration must be given to the severity and pace of the patient's CDI when deciding whether early use of FMT is appropriate to prevent further clinical deterioration.

Exclusion Criteria:

* absence of either patient's or its legally authorized representative's informed consent
* inability or unwillingness to comply with protocol requirements
* severe co-morbidities, terminal underlying disease with a life expectancy of less than 90 days
* pregnancy or breastfeeding
* active gastroenteritis caused by microorganisms other than CD
* underlying chronic gastrointestinal disease that causes diarrhoea such as autonomic diabetic neuropathy, short bowel syndrome, faecal incontinence, active inflammatory bowel disease
* alimentary or over-the-counter drog allergy with previous anaphylactic reaction
* absolute contraindication to FMT

Answer: B