UK Doctors Explore “Poo Pills” to Combat Dangerous Superbugs

In a groundbreaking effort to tackle the rise of drug-resistant infections, doctors in the UK are testing a novel treatment involving “poo pills,” which contain freeze-dried faeces from healthy donors. This innovative approach aims to restore a healthy balance of gut bacteria in patients suffering from infections caused by superbugs—organisms that have evolved to resist conventional antibiotics.

The Growing Threat of Superbugs

Superbugs are becoming a serious global health threat, with estimates suggesting they contribute to the deaths of over a million people globally each year. These bacteria often dwell in the intestines, where they can thrive due to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, which has inadvertently created an environment ripe for resistance.

  • Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve to withstand medications designed to kill them.
  • Superbugs can spread from the gut to other areas of the body, leading to infections in the bloodstream or urinary tract.

Dr. Blair Merrick, from Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in London, emphasizes that the gut is “the biggest reservoir of antibiotic resistance in humans,” prompting urgent research into methods to eliminate superbugs from this crucial area.

Poo Pills: A New Solution?

The concept of using faecal transplants—often referred to humorously as “trans-poo-tions”—is not entirely new; such procedures have been used successfully to treat severe diarrhoea caused by Clostridium difficile bacteria. However, emerging evidence suggests these transplants may also effectively reduce superbug prevalence in patients.

In recent trials, 41 patients with a history of drug-resistant infections were given pills made from freeze-dried faeces collected from a stool bank. These samples are meticulously screened to ensure safety, removing any harmful bacteria and undigested food before being processed into a stable powder form. The pills are designed to survive the harsh environment of the stomach and dissolve in the intestines, where they release beneficial bacteria.

Promising Results from Early Trials

Early results from the trial indicate that patients were willing to take these pills, and follow-up tests revealed that donor bacteria remained in their intestines for at least a month after treatment. Dr Merrick noted that these “poo pills” could potentially engage in a microbial battle with superbugs, competing for resources in the gut and improving overall gut health.

“It’s very exciting. There’s a real shift from 20 years ago where all bacteria and viruses were assumed to do you harm; to now where we realize they are completely necessary to our overall health.” — Dr. Blair Merrick

  • Post-treatment, patients exhibited a more diverse array of gut bacteria—a sign of good health.
  • This diverse microbiome may enhance “colonization resistance,” making it harder for harmful bacteria to establish themselves.

The Role of the Microbiome in Health

The human microbiome, which consists of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms living in and on our bodies, plays a critical role in our overall health. Recent studies have suggested that the microbiome may be linked to various health conditions, ranging from Crohn’s disease to mental health disorders and even cancer. A new study highlighted that beneficial bacteria encountered shortly after birth could reduce hospital admissions for lung infections in young children.

The Future of Microbiome-Based Therapies

If the efficacy of “poo pills” is confirmed in larger studies, researchers believe these treatments could become a common preventive and therapeutic measure, particularly for individuals undergoing medical treatments that suppress the immune system, such as cancer therapies or organ transplants. The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency has reported that over 450 microbiome therapies are currently in development, highlighting a growing interest in harnessing these natural organisms to combat health challenges. Dr. Chrysi Sergaki, head of microbiome research at the MHRA, stated, “We could potentially, in the future, replace antibiotics with microbiome therapies—that’s the big picture, so there’s a lot of potential.”