UK Doctors Using “Poo Pills” to Combat Superbug Infections

Doctors in the UK are exploring a novel method to tackle severe superbug infections through the use of “poo pills,” which consist of freeze-dried fecal matter.

These stool samples are sourced from healthy donors, loaded with beneficial bacteria. Preliminary findings indicate that these pills may help eliminate superbugs from the intestines, essentially swapping them out for healthier gut bacteria.

This initiative represents a fresh strategy against infections that resist conventional antibiotics—a serious issue, as antibiotic resistance reportedly claims around a million lives globally each year.

According to Dr. Blair Merrick, who conducts trials at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, the bowels serve as “the biggest reservoir of antibiotic resistance in humans.” Superbugs can break free from the intestines and cause complications elsewhere in the body, including infections in the urinary tract or bloodstream. “There’s significant interest in exploring whether we can eradicate them from the gut,” he notes.

The concept of “poo pills” might raise some eyebrows, but it’s not entirely outlandish. Fecal transplants—often jokingly referred to as a trans-poo-tion—are already sanctioned for treating severe diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile infections.

Interestingly, early observations indicated that these transplants not only assist with C. difficile but may also help eliminate superbugs.

Current research focuses on patients who have faced infections from drug-resistant bacteria within the last six months. Participants were given pills derived from fecal donations, which are sorted and rigorously tested to ensure safety before being freeze-dried into a powdered form.

This powder is contained in a pill designed to survive the transit through the stomach, releasing its beneficial contents once it reaches the intestines.

The study, which has included 41 patients at the aforementioned London hospitals, lays the groundwork for larger future research. Results indicate that patients were receptive to taking these pills and that the donated bacteria remained detectable in their intestines for at least a month afterward.

Dr. Merrick expresses optimism, suggesting that these “poo pills” could be instrumental in addressing the escalating issue of superbugs. He theorizes that the introduced bacteria may engage in a “microbial war” with the superbugs, competing for resources, either eliminating them or reducing their presence to a non-threatening level. There’s also evidence that gut diversity increases post-treatment—a sign of healthier gut function that could resist new infections.

“It’s really encouraging,” Dr. Merrick comments. “We’re shifting from perceptions that all bacteria are harmful—now recognizing their essential role in our well-being.” Recent studies have highlighted the importance of beneficial bacteria acquired shortly after birth, which can significantly decrease the hospitalization risk for young children facing respiratory infections.

Interestingly, the number of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms in our bodies far outnumbers our own human cells, collectively termed the microbiome. This discovery has led to research linking the microbiome to various health concerns, from Crohn’s disease to mental health issues.

If the efficacy of these poo pills is validated in larger studies, they might serve both therapeutic and preventative functions for individuals at higher risk. Medical treatments that compromise the immune system—like cancer therapies and organ transplants—make patients particularly vulnerable to drug-resistant organisms, as Dr. Merrick points out.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Agency notes that over 450 microbiome-based medications are currently under development. “Some of these will undoubtedly succeed, and I believe we’ll see them entering the market soon,” suggests Dr. Chrysi Sergaki, who oversees microbiome research at the agency. “Looking ahead, we might even find ourselves replacing antibiotics with microbiome therapies—there’s considerable potential here.”