A Primer on Fecal Microbiota Transplants

Fecal Microbiota Transplants have become the "magic bullet," so to speak, in the battle against C. diff, a dangerous antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria. C. diff is opportunistic, and tends to take up residence in a patient who has already used antibiotics to kill off other harmful bacteria -which killed off beneficial bacteria as well. In this video, Dr. Mark Smith explains how and why fecal transplants work. Science writer Ed Yong tries to keep a straight face amid Smith's potty humor. The upshot is that when we overdo modern techniques, such as antibiotics, we often provoke new and unforeseen problems with it. The solution can be to go back to ancient traditional remedies and let nature do her work. (via Digg)