The Human Microbiome
Brian Koll, MD, FACP, FIDSA
Professor of Medicine
ICAHN School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai Health System Executive Director For
Infection Prevention
April 8, 2014
Outline of Talk
1. The Human Microbiome Project
2. C. difficile and Fecal Microbiome
3. Fecal Transplant and the Microbiome
4. Cost Effectiveness of Fecal Transplant with Restoration of the Microbiome
Human Microbiome Project
• United States National Institutes of Heath• Five year project 2007 - 2012
• Identify and characterize the microorganisms which are found in association with both healthy individuals and those with diseases (the human microbiome)
• Second phase 2013 - 2015• Explore the relationship between disease and changes
in the human microbiome
Human Microbiome Project
• Metagenomics• Genetic makeup of microbial communities from various body sites
• Whole genome sequencing• Individual bacterial species
• 16S rRNA sequences amplified by PCR
• Five body sites• Oral• Skin• Vagina• Gut• Nasal/Lung
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
Human Microbiome Project
• Different body sites have their own distinctive communities
• Microbes colonize each site to use available sugars
• Variations in the enzymes for carbohydrate metabolism from site to site
• Carbohydrate metabolites may be the most important factor shaping the composition of microbial sub-communities of the human microbiome
Human Microbiome Project
• Mouth and the gut have greater diversity of organisms than the skin and vagina
• Bacterial makeup for a given body site varies from person to person by type and abundance
• Bacteria of the same species composed of multiple subtypes
Human Microbiome Project
• The vast majority of bacteria live in the large intestine• Archaea• Bacteria• Fungi
• Mutualistic, symbiotic relationship• Fermentation for energy• Digestion• Train our immune system• Produce vitamins such as
Vitamin K• Produce hormones to help store
fat
Decreased Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome in Recurrent Clostridial difficile (CDI) Associated Diarrhea
• Diarrhea is a common side effect of the administration of antibiotics
• CDI is associated with most of the severe cases of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD)
• Ingestion of environmental spores• Overgrowth of indigenous CDI
• Standard treatment for CDI includes metronidazole or vancomycin
• Treatment of recurrent CDI can be difficult and has led to dramatic interventions, such as the administration of donor stool from healthy volunteers
Decreased Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome in Recurrent CDI Associated Diarrhea
• The mechanisms by which antibiotics lead to CDI are not entirely clear
• 16S rRNA sequences amplified by PCR to profile the community structure of the gut microbiota of patients with initial CDI and recurrent CDI
• Sequences grouped into operational taxonomic units (OTUs)
• Ecological diversity measures calculated using the Shannon Index
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Decreased Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome in Recurrent CDI Associated Diarrhea
• 3 control subjects and 7 patients with CDI
• Microbial communities in each subject were compared and characterized at the phylum level
• 3 control subjects and the 4 patients with initial CDI• Bacteroides and Firmicutes
• 3 patients with recurrent CDI• More variable microbiota and lack of predominance of
Bacteroides and Firmicutes
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Decreased Diversity of the Fecal Microbiome in Recurrent CDI Associated Diarrhea
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Conclusions
• Changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and AAD• Changes in metabolic activity of the altered microbial
community• Changes in the interaction between the microbiome and
the host immune system
• “Colonization Resistance” of indigenous gut microbiota• Breakdown in colonization resistance
• Suppression of indigenous microbiota• Expansion of pre-existing CDI or germination and
expansion of CDI spores acquired from the environment
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Conclusions
• Standard treatment with metronidazole or vancomycin• Suppress CDI and allow recovery of indigenous
microbiota with restoration of colonization resistance• Assumption: remaining microbiome is sufficiently diverse
to recover to a “normal” state
• Recurrent CDI• Recrudescence of the original strain or acquisition of a
new strain• Assumption: remaining microbiome is deficient in the
ability to restore colonization resistance
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Treatment OptionsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infections
1. For nonepidemic, nonsevere CDI clearly induced by antibiotic use, with no signs of severe colitis, it may be acceptable to stop the inducing antibiotic and observe the clinical response for 48 hours.
Patients must be monitored very closely and treated immediately for any signs of clinical deterioration.
Treatment OptionsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infections
2. Antibiotic treatment is recommended for all cases of CDI except for very mild CDI, which is actually triggered by antibiotic use.
Suitable antibiotics include metronidazole, vancomycin, and fidaxomicin
1. For mild/moderate disease, metronidazole is recommended as oral antibiotic treatment of initial CDI (500 mg 3 times daily for 10 days)
2. Fidaxomicin may be used in all CDI patients for whom oral antibiotic treatment is appropriate. Specific indications for fidaxomicin may include first-line treatment in patients with first CDI recurrence or at risk for recurrent disease, in patients with multiple recurrences of CDI, and in patients with severe disease and nonsevere CDI.
Treatment OptionsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infections• Recommendations based on two large phase 3 clinical
studies• 400 mg/day oral fidaxomicin vs 500 mg/day oral
vancomycin• the rate of CDI recurrence was lower with fidaxomicin, but
the cure rate was similar for both treatments
24
February 3, 2011Louie T.J., Miller M.A., Mullane K.M., et al. N Engl J Med 2011; 364:422-431
Treatment OptionsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infections
3. For severe CDI• vancomycin 125 mg 4 times daily (may be increased to
500 mg 4 times daily) for 10 days• fidaxomicin 200 mg twice daily for 10 days.
• In life-threatening CDI, there is no evidence supporting the use of fidaxomicin
• In severe CDI or life-threatening disease, the use of oral metronidazole is strongly discouraged
Treatment OptionsEuropean Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infections4. For multiple recurrent CDI, fecal transplantation is strongly
recommended
5. Total abdominal colectomy or diverting loop ileostomy combined with colonic lavage is recommended for CDI with colonic perforation and/or systemic inflammation and deteriorating clinical condition despite antibiotic treatment
Annals of Surgery Volume 254, Number 3, September 2011
6. Additional measures for CDI management include discontinuing unnecessary antimicrobial therapy, adequate fluid and electrolyte replacement, avoiding antimotility medications, and reviewing proton pump inhibitor use
Fecal Transplantation
• Amsterdam• Adults with CDI relapse• Not immunosuppressed• Not on pressors• Not in ICU• Not pregnant
27
January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
• Donors• < 60 years of age• Screened for a variety of transimissable
diseases• Sample collected on the day of infusion• 500 ml of saline• Infused via NGT
o 50 ml over 3 minutes
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
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January 31, 2013 van Nood E., Vrieze A., Nieuwdorp M., et al. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:407-415
Fecal Transplantation
• Bacteriotherapy
• 16sRNA sequencing before and after fecal transplant
• Prior to therapy• Deficient in Bacteroides and Firmicutes
• 14 days post transplant• Fecal composition of the recipient highly similar to the
donor• Dominated by Bacteroides• Resolution of symptoms
34
Khoruts A, Dicksyed J, Jansson JK, Sadowsky MJ. J Clin Gastroenterol2010 May – Jun; 44(5); 354-60
ID Week 2013 Fecal Transplantation
• University of Calgary• Pills
• Centrifuge• Encapsulate in three layers of gelatin• Release in colon• 24 – 34 capsules
• 27 patients• 100% with resolution
• 40 patients• 98% with resolution
35ID Week 2013. Abstract 89. Presented October 3, 2013
ID Week 2013 Fecal Transplantation
• University of Calgary• Patient Satisfaction
• 9.6 overall• 9.9 for ease• 9.9 would recommend
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ID Week 2013. Abstract 89. Presented October 3, 2013
Fecal Transplantation
“It's the yuck factor that has to be overcome, and it's the physicians, not the patients.”
Dr. Tom MooreUniversity of Kansas School of Medicine
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ID Week 2013. Abstract 89. Presented October 3, 2013
Cost-effectiveness for Management of Recurrent CDI• Decision analytic model
• Metronidazole• Vancomycin• Fidaxomycin• Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT)
• FMT• Colonoscopy• Duodenal infusion• Enema
Konijeti GG, Sauk J, Shrime MG, et al. March 31, 2014: 1 - 6
Cost-effectiveness for Management of Recurrent CDI• Cohorts of patients with a median age of 65 years• 1 year follow-up• PCR testing for CDI• Heterogeneous patient population of 027 and non-027 strains
• Healthy• Mild-moderate CDI• Severe CDI• Persistent recurrent disease• Postcolectomy• Death
Konijeti GG, Sauk J, Shrime MG, et al. March 31, 2014: 1 - 6
Cost-effectiveness for Management of Recurrent CDI• Treatment algorithms consistent with previously
presented guidelines
• Median hospital duration of two weeks
• FMT colonoscopy was the most cost-effective strategy for recurrent CDI• Cure rates > 88%• Recurrence rates < 15%• $2,724
• Vancomycin preferred in settings where FMT not available
Konijeti GG, Sauk J, Shrime MG, et al. March 31, 2014: 1 - 6
It may end with the microbiomebut it begins with antibiotics and stewardship
Chang JY, Antonopoulos DA, Kalra A, et al. JID 2008:197 435 -438
Thank You