With the deepening understanding of the role of gut microbiota in human health and disease, fecal microbiota transplantation has gained widespread attention as an emerging therapeutic approach in recent years. This technique involves the transplantation of microbial communities from the feces of healthy donors into patients to reconstruct or improve the gut microbiota structure, thereby achieving therapeutic goals. Fecal microbiota transplantation has become an effective method for treating recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infections and has shown good therapeutic effects and safety in clinical trials for various gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, slow transit constipation, and chronic diarrhea. Moreover, its application has been extended to research in metabolic diseases and neurological disorders, which are not directly related to the gut. However, the clinical efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation still needs improvement, and there are many challenges regarding specific application strategies that remain to be addressed. This article discusses the current progress and challenges of fecal microbiota transplantation strategies and reviews cutting-edge interventional methods such as small intestine microbiota intervention and bacteriophage therapy, aiming to provide reference for further research in fecal microbiota transplantation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has the potential to rebuild the intestinal microbiome of patients, which can influence the disease course, alleviate symptoms, or even cure the disease. It is seen as a promising breakthrough for treating major chronic diseases that are difficult to manage. Currently, FMT therapy has been clinically studied for over 80 diseases and has led to significant breakthroughs. However, there are still four main challenges: (1) identifying the effective characteristics of donor microbiota and ensuring precise matching between donors and recipients; (2) understanding the pathways and molecular mechanisms by which key FMT bacteria and metabolites improve disease outcomes; (3) studying strain interactions and colonization mechanisms to restore intestinal microbiota balance; and (4) refining the precision of microbiome and functional microbiota transplantation. To address these clinical challenges, this article reviews the latest research both domestically and internationally, outlines the response patterns of FMT therapy, examines the reasons behind FMT failure, and explores future directions for the development of FMT. The aim is to accelerate the scientific and precise advancement of FMT technology in China.

Objective:To examine the long-term efficacy and complications of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of diseases related to intestinal dysbiosis.Methods:This was a retrospective descriptive study. Relevant data were collected from the records of 15 000 patients who had undergone FMT and been followed up for more than 3 months during the period from May 2017 to September 2024. The patient cohort comprised 3746 male and 11 254 female patients aged (45.3±12.2) years. The inclusion criterion was meeting the indications for FMT. Application of this criterion yielded 8258 patients with constipation, 684 with Clostridium difficile infection, 1730 with chronic diarrhea, 510 with inflammatory bowel disease, 432 with radiation enteritis, 1940 with irritable bowel syndrome, 365 with autism, 870 with postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction, and 211 with neurodegenerative diseases. The three routes of delivering FMT comprised infusion of an enterobacterial solution through a nasoenteric tube into the jejunum for 6 consecutive days (upper gastrointestinal FMT group, 11 125 patients), oral intake of enterobacterial capsules for 6 consecutive days (oral capsule FMT, 3597 patients), and a single injection of a bacterial solution into the colon via colonoscopy (lower gastrointestinal FMT group, 278 patients). Other treatments were discontinued during the treatment and follow-up period and administration of other medications was not recommended unless absolutely necessary. The primary outcomes were the efficacy of FMT after 3, 12 and 36 months of treatment, and improvement in chronic constipation, C. difficile infection, chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, radiation enteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, post-surgery gastrointestinal dysfunction, and autism. Other outcomes included the occurrence of short-term (within 2 weeks after treatment) and long-term (within 36 months after treatment) adverse reactions.Results:At 3, 12 and 36 months after treatment, the overall rates of effectiveness of treatment were 71.8% (10 763/15 000), 64.4% (7600/11 808) and 58.8% (3659/6218), respectively. Specifically, the rates of clinical improvement were 70.3% (5805/8258), 62.6% (3970/6345), and 56.5% (1894/3352), respectively, for constipation; 85.8% (587/684), 72.3% (408/564), and 67.3% (218/324), respectively, for C.difficile infection; 81.0% (1401/1730), 78.1% (1198/1534), and 72.3% (633/876), respectively, for chronic diarrhea; 64.3% (328/510), 52.3% (249/476), and 46.6 % (97/208), respectively, for inflammatory bowel disease; 77.3% (334/432), 65.4% (212/324), and 53.6% (82/153), respectively, for radiculitis; 70.6% (1370/1940), 64.5% (939/1456), and 60.4% (475/786), respectively, for irritable bowel syndrome; 75.3% (275/365), 70.0% (201/287), and 63.6% (112/176), respectively, for autism; 65.3% (568/870), 54.3% (355/654), and 46.5% (114/245), respectively, for post-surgical gastrointestinal dysfunction; and 45.0% (95/211), 40.5% (68/168), and 34.7% (34/98), respectively, for neurodegenerative diseases. At 3, 12, and 36 months post-treatment, clinical improvement rates were 77.1% (8580/11 125), 67.1% (6437/9595), and 62.1% (3196/5145), respectively, in the upper gastrointestinal route group; and 57.3% (2062/3597), 53.6% (1115/2081), and 45.0% (453/1006), respectively, in the oral capsule group; and 43.5% (121/278) , 36.4% (48/132) and 14.9% (10/67), respectively, in the lower gastrointestinal route group. No serious adverse reactions occurred during treatment or follow-up. The most common adverse reactions in the upper gastrointestinal route group, oral capsule group, and lower gastrointestinal route group were respiratory discomfort (20.4%, 2269/11 125), nausea and vomiting on swallowing the capsule (7.6%, 273/3597), and diarrhea (47.5%, 132/278), respectively; these symptoms resolved at the end of treatment. At 36 months of follow-up, 19 patients reported exacerbation of symptoms of pre-existing diseases and there had been 16 deaths that were not directly related to FMT. Additionally, no systemic diseases had developed after FMT.Conclusion:FMT for the treatment of intestinal dysfunction associated with disorders of the intestinal flora and related extraintestinal diseases is effective and not associated with serious adverse events.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating functional constipation, analyze the incidence of, and factors that influence, adverse events, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing FMT treatment.Methods:This retrospective, multicenter, single-arm, pre–post real-world study included 1529 patients with functional constipation from four clinical centers. Eligibility criteria comprised meeting the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation, having undergone at least one FMT treatment, complete pre- and post-treatment data available, and age ≥18 years. Patients who had received other interventions affecting gut function within 1 month before treatment and those with severe organic diseases or immune deficiencies were excluded. Applying the above criteria yielded 1529 eligible patients with functional constipation from four medical centers (1405 from the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, 20 from the Central Hospital of Wuhan, 67 from the Shanxi Bethune Hospital and 37 from the Longgang District People's Hospital of Shenzhen). The study cohort comprised 746 male (48.8%) and 783 female patients (51.2%) of mean age (51.4 ± 17.4) years, mean body mass index (26.4 ± 4.9) kg/m2, and mean duration of disease (15.0 ± 8.3) years. The primary outcomes were the incidence, types, and severity of adverse reactions during treatment, and their impact on patients' quality of life. Secondary outcomes included: (1) the efficacy of FMT in treating constipation. This was assessed based on changes in Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) scores, where higher score indicates worse symptom. (2) Subjective satisfaction, evaluated through questionnaires or rating scales, reflecting patients' acceptance of and satisfaction with the treatment, with scores ranging from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicated greater satisfaction. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to evaluate changes in symptom scores and biochemical indicators before and after treatment. Logistic regression was performed to analyze factors influencing adverse events, and subgroup analyses to explored differences in efficacy between patient groups.Results:In this cohort of 1529 patients with functional constipation, adverse reactions were primarily mild to moderate (1048/1529,68.5%). They comprised fever in 54 patients (3.5%), dizziness or fatigue in 218 (14.3%), throat discomfort in 806 (52.7%), nausea and vomiting in 166 (10.9%), and abdominal distension or pain in 415 (27.1%). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, PAC-SYM scores were associated with the rate of adverse reactions, higher scores indicating a lower risk (OR = 0.958, 95% CI: 0.923–0.993, P=0.021). Among the 1529 patients, 274 (17.9%) underwent two or more treatment courses. After one treatment course, the patients' PAC-SYM scores decreased from (37.7 ± 3.2) pre-treatment to (23.7 ± 8.6) (mean difference 14.0 ± 9.1). PAC-SYM scores decreased by (20.7 ± 7.7) after two courses of FMT, and by (19.4 ± 6.3) after three courses. After treatment, 50.7%(775/1529) of patients reported satisfaction scores of ≥4. Adverse reactions impacted satisfaction; specifically, dizziness/fatigue, throat discomfort, and abdominal distension/pain were significantly associated with satisfaction (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:FMT achieved good relief of symptoms of functional constipation and multiple treatment courses have a cumulative effect. Adverse reactions, mainly dizziness/fatigue, throat discomfort, and abdominal distension/pain, had significant negative impacts on patient satisfaction.

With the deepening understanding of the role of gut microbiota in human health and disease, fecal microbiota transplantation has gained widespread attention as an emerging therapeutic approach in recent years. This technique involves the transplantation of microbial communities from the feces of healthy donors into patients to reconstruct or improve the gut microbiota structure, thereby achieving therapeutic goals. Fecal microbiota transplantation has become an effective method for treating recurrent or refractory Clostridium difficile infections and has shown good therapeutic effects and safety in clinical trials for various gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, slow transit constipation, and chronic diarrhea. Moreover, its application has been extended to research in metabolic diseases and neurological disorders, which are not directly related to the gut. However, the clinical efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation still needs improvement, and there are many challenges regarding specific application strategies that remain to be addressed. This article discusses the current progress and challenges of fecal microbiota transplantation strategies and reviews cutting-edge interventional methods such as small intestine microbiota intervention and bacteriophage therapy, aiming to provide reference for further research in fecal microbiota transplantation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has the potential to rebuild the intestinal microbiome of patients, which can influence the disease course, alleviate symptoms, or even cure the disease. It is seen as a promising breakthrough for treating major chronic diseases that are difficult to manage. Currently, FMT therapy has been clinically studied for over 80 diseases and has led to significant breakthroughs. However, there are still four main challenges: (1) identifying the effective characteristics of donor microbiota and ensuring precise matching between donors and recipients; (2) understanding the pathways and molecular mechanisms by which key FMT bacteria and metabolites improve disease outcomes; (3) studying strain interactions and colonization mechanisms to restore intestinal microbiota balance; and (4) refining the precision of microbiome and functional microbiota transplantation. To address these clinical challenges, this article reviews the latest research both domestically and internationally, outlines the response patterns of FMT therapy, examines the reasons behind FMT failure, and explores future directions for the development of FMT. The aim is to accelerate the scientific and precise advancement of FMT technology in China.

Objective:To examine the long-term efficacy and complications of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for the treatment of diseases related to intestinal dysbiosis.Methods:This was a retrospective descriptive study. Relevant data were collected from the records of 15 000 patients who had undergone FMT and been followed up for more than 3 months during the period from May 2017 to September 2024. The patient cohort comprised 3746 male and 11 254 female patients aged (45.3±12.2) years. The inclusion criterion was meeting the indications for FMT. Application of this criterion yielded 8258 patients with constipation, 684 with Clostridium difficile infection, 1730 with chronic diarrhea, 510 with inflammatory bowel disease, 432 with radiation enteritis, 1940 with irritable bowel syndrome, 365 with autism, 870 with postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction, and 211 with neurodegenerative diseases. The three routes of delivering FMT comprised infusion of an enterobacterial solution through a nasoenteric tube into the jejunum for 6 consecutive days (upper gastrointestinal FMT group, 11 125 patients), oral intake of enterobacterial capsules for 6 consecutive days (oral capsule FMT, 3597 patients), and a single injection of a bacterial solution into the colon via colonoscopy (lower gastrointestinal FMT group, 278 patients). Other treatments were discontinued during the treatment and follow-up period and administration of other medications was not recommended unless absolutely necessary. The primary outcomes were the efficacy of FMT after 3, 12 and 36 months of treatment, and improvement in chronic constipation, C. difficile infection, chronic diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, radiation enteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, post-surgery gastrointestinal dysfunction, and autism. Other outcomes included the occurrence of short-term (within 2 weeks after treatment) and long-term (within 36 months after treatment) adverse reactions.Results:At 3, 12 and 36 months after treatment, the overall rates of effectiveness of treatment were 71.8% (10 763/15 000), 64.4% (7600/11 808) and 58.8% (3659/6218), respectively. Specifically, the rates of clinical improvement were 70.3% (5805/8258), 62.6% (3970/6345), and 56.5% (1894/3352), respectively, for constipation; 85.8% (587/684), 72.3% (408/564), and 67.3% (218/324), respectively, for C.difficile infection; 81.0% (1401/1730), 78.1% (1198/1534), and 72.3% (633/876), respectively, for chronic diarrhea; 64.3% (328/510), 52.3% (249/476), and 46.6 % (97/208), respectively, for inflammatory bowel disease; 77.3% (334/432), 65.4% (212/324), and 53.6% (82/153), respectively, for radiculitis; 70.6% (1370/1940), 64.5% (939/1456), and 60.4% (475/786), respectively, for irritable bowel syndrome; 75.3% (275/365), 70.0% (201/287), and 63.6% (112/176), respectively, for autism; 65.3% (568/870), 54.3% (355/654), and 46.5% (114/245), respectively, for post-surgical gastrointestinal dysfunction; and 45.0% (95/211), 40.5% (68/168), and 34.7% (34/98), respectively, for neurodegenerative diseases. At 3, 12, and 36 months post-treatment, clinical improvement rates were 77.1% (8580/11 125), 67.1% (6437/9595), and 62.1% (3196/5145), respectively, in the upper gastrointestinal route group; and 57.3% (2062/3597), 53.6% (1115/2081), and 45.0% (453/1006), respectively, in the oral capsule group; and 43.5% (121/278) , 36.4% (48/132) and 14.9% (10/67), respectively, in the lower gastrointestinal route group. No serious adverse reactions occurred during treatment or follow-up. The most common adverse reactions in the upper gastrointestinal route group, oral capsule group, and lower gastrointestinal route group were respiratory discomfort (20.4%, 2269/11 125), nausea and vomiting on swallowing the capsule (7.6%, 273/3597), and diarrhea (47.5%, 132/278), respectively; these symptoms resolved at the end of treatment. At 36 months of follow-up, 19 patients reported exacerbation of symptoms of pre-existing diseases and there had been 16 deaths that were not directly related to FMT. Additionally, no systemic diseases had developed after FMT.Conclusion:FMT for the treatment of intestinal dysfunction associated with disorders of the intestinal flora and related extraintestinal diseases is effective and not associated with serious adverse events.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating functional constipation, analyze the incidence of, and factors that influence, adverse events, and provide scientific evidence for optimizing FMT treatment.Methods:This retrospective, multicenter, single-arm, pre–post real-world study included 1529 patients with functional constipation from four clinical centers. Eligibility criteria comprised meeting the diagnostic criteria for functional constipation, having undergone at least one FMT treatment, complete pre- and post-treatment data available, and age ≥18 years. Patients who had received other interventions affecting gut function within 1 month before treatment and those with severe organic diseases or immune deficiencies were excluded. Applying the above criteria yielded 1529 eligible patients with functional constipation from four medical centers (1405 from the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University, 20 from the Central Hospital of Wuhan, 67 from the Shanxi Bethune Hospital and 37 from the Longgang District People's Hospital of Shenzhen). The study cohort comprised 746 male (48.8%) and 783 female patients (51.2%) of mean age (51.4 ± 17.4) years, mean body mass index (26.4 ± 4.9) kg/m2, and mean duration of disease (15.0 ± 8.3) years. The primary outcomes were the incidence, types, and severity of adverse reactions during treatment, and their impact on patients' quality of life. Secondary outcomes included: (1) the efficacy of FMT in treating constipation. This was assessed based on changes in Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) scores, where higher score indicates worse symptom. (2) Subjective satisfaction, evaluated through questionnaires or rating scales, reflecting patients' acceptance of and satisfaction with the treatment, with scores ranging from 1 to 5, where higher scores indicated greater satisfaction. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to evaluate changes in symptom scores and biochemical indicators before and after treatment. Logistic regression was performed to analyze factors influencing adverse events, and subgroup analyses to explored differences in efficacy between patient groups.Results:In this cohort of 1529 patients with functional constipation, adverse reactions were primarily mild to moderate (1048/1529,68.5%). They comprised fever in 54 patients (3.5%), dizziness or fatigue in 218 (14.3%), throat discomfort in 806 (52.7%), nausea and vomiting in 166 (10.9%), and abdominal distension or pain in 415 (27.1%). According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, PAC-SYM scores were associated with the rate of adverse reactions, higher scores indicating a lower risk (OR = 0.958, 95% CI: 0.923–0.993, P=0.021). Among the 1529 patients, 274 (17.9%) underwent two or more treatment courses. After one treatment course, the patients' PAC-SYM scores decreased from (37.7 ± 3.2) pre-treatment to (23.7 ± 8.6) (mean difference 14.0 ± 9.1). PAC-SYM scores decreased by (20.7 ± 7.7) after two courses of FMT, and by (19.4 ± 6.3) after three courses. After treatment, 50.7%(775/1529) of patients reported satisfaction scores of ≥4. Adverse reactions impacted satisfaction; specifically, dizziness/fatigue, throat discomfort, and abdominal distension/pain were significantly associated with satisfaction (all P < 0.05). Conclusions:FMT achieved good relief of symptoms of functional constipation and multiple treatment courses have a cumulative effect. Adverse reactions, mainly dizziness/fatigue, throat discomfort, and abdominal distension/pain, had significant negative impacts on patient satisfaction.

In recent years, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown significant progress in the research and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, challenges remain in evaluating its efficacy and clinical adoption due to methodological heterogeneity. Since 2023, Europe, the United States, and China have issued a series of guidelines and consensus statements on FMT for IBD, addressing its background, therapeutic goals, and principles. The 2025 Chinese consensus on FMT for IBD integrates the experience of China's largest FMT treatment center and the latest global evidence, with a focus on standardizing FMT methodologies. This article highlights key methodological aspects from the consensus and compares them with recent international guidelines, aiming to enhance clinicians' understanding of FMT principles, advance clinical practice, and promote standardized and evidence-based FMT applications in IBD management.

In recent years, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown significant progress in the research and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, challenges remain in evaluating its efficacy and clinical adoption due to methodological heterogeneity. Since 2023, Europe, the United States, and China have issued a series of guidelines and consensus statements on FMT for IBD, addressing its background, therapeutic goals, and principles. The 2025 Chinese consensus on FMT for IBD integrates the experience of China's largest FMT treatment center and the latest global evidence, with a focus on standardizing FMT methodologies. This article highlights key methodological aspects from the consensus and compares them with recent international guidelines, aiming to enhance clinicians' understanding of FMT principles, advance clinical practice, and promote standardized and evidence-based FMT applications in IBD management.