Poo transplant

A doctor is using the unusual procedure to repopulate the gut with healthy bacteria, which can reduce in number in certain diseases.

Dr Alisdair MacConnachie, who thinks he is the only UK doctor to carry out the procedure for Clostridium difficle infection, describes it as a proven treatment.

C. difficile infection is caused by antibiotics wiping out swathes of bacteria in the gut. It gives the surviving C. difficile bacteria room to explode in numbers and produce masses of toxins which lead to diarrhoea and can be fatal.

The first-choice solution, more antibiotics, does not always work and some patients develop recurrent infection.

The theory is that by adding more bacteria to the bowels, they will compete with C. difficile bacteria and control the infection.

The dreaded procedure

On the morning of the procedure, the donor will come into hospital and produce a sample.

A relative is generally used, preferably one who lives with the patient, because living in the same environment and eating the same food means they are more likely to have similar bowel bacteria.

About 30g (1oz) of shit is taken and blitzed in a household blender with some salt water. This is poured through a coffee filter to leave a watery liquid.

Dr MacConnachie inserts a tube up the patient's nose and down to the stomach. Other doctors use a different route to the bowels (up da butt).

About 30ml (1fl oz) of brown liquid is poured down the tube.