Microbiome pilot

Australian Red Cross Lifeblood have been providing life-saving biological products to the community for more than 90 years, through blood, organ-matching, tissue typing, donated breast milk, and microbiome.

Our Microbiome pilot in partnership with Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth is now treating patients suffering from recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI) with Faecal Microbiota for Transplant (FMT). rCDI is a serious bacterial infection within the gut; it’s pervasive, debilitating, and can be fatal. Where traditional treatments like antibiotics for this infection haven’t helped, FMT has been effective in treating more than 90 per cent of patients. Often patients only require one treatment.

Most patients see an improvement in their condition or become asymptomatic following FMT treatment. This means being able to return to life as normal, including the many simple things we take for granted like returning to work, taking public transport or just spending quality time with family.

What is an FMT?

FMT is made by collecting stools from a healthy donor, processing and testing it, then providing it to clinicians to transplant into patients. The aim is to treat disease or relieve symptoms.

Providing more life-giving biological products to Australians in need

Lifeblood Executive Director Stuart Chesneau said Lifeblood was proud to be manufacturing FMT for Australians.

“Lifeblood already has the expertise in supplying donated biological products from our blood and milk services, so becoming the first TGA-licensed FMT manufacturer last year was a natural step to help us improve even more lives,” Mr Chesneau said.

Future potential health innovations

While treatment of rCDI by FMT is showing promising results, FMT’s potential life-changing role in other gastrointestinal diseases is also being explored. In the future, Lifeblood also plans to supply FMT for use in research programs to treat other conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, major depressive disorders and in response to adverse events resulting from chemotherapy.

Saving lives takes guts and is made possible through donations. This innovative product is already life-changing for Australians.