Guy’s and St Thomas’ researchers are looking for poo transplant volunteers to sign up to ground-breaking research into drug-resistant infections.
Faecal transplants involve giving stool samples from a healthy donor to someone whose body is carrying an organism that has become resistant to standard treatments, whether antibiotics, antivirals or antifungals.
Donated poo is processed and turned into a tasteless capsule that looks just like any other tablet – just like popping a paracetamol.
It has already been proven as an effective treatment for diarrhoea caused by the bacteria C.diff but research is still in its early stages.
Without new antibiotics and other treatments, common infections will increasingly have the potential to kill or leave patients severely ill.
November 18-24 is the UN’s World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, aiming to raise awareness of the issue.
Researchers say drug resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, and hope Southwark volunteers will put aside any initial squeamishness and sign up.
To take part in the study you need to be fit and healthy, aged eighteen to 60, not taking regular medication and have not had antibiotics within the last three months.
For more information, contact PPI@gstt.nhs.uk / 02071888515