Region Skåne, a healthcare region in Sweden, has announced a need for stool donors as the demand for fecal microbiota transplantation is rising. This follows a significant increase in cases of severe diarrhea associated with antibiotic treatments, impacting many patients who require urgent medical intervention. At Skåne University Hospital in Lund, capsules containing beneficial gut bacteria have been produced for the past year and are administered to these patients as a crucial part of their recovery process.

The healthcare authorities aim to make this treatment accessible at all infection clinics in Skåne by the end of 2023. However, they face a critical shortage of donors, which poses a challenge to their objective of shortening wait times for patients in need. In a public statement, Sara Hansson, a nurse in infectious diseases, emphasized that each patient awaiting treatment relies on gut bacteria from healthy donors, reinforcing the importance of increasing donor recruitment to meet the anticipated rise in demand in 2026.

This initiative not only highlights the innovative treatments being developed to address complications from antibiotic use but also raises awareness of the essential role that stool donors play in restoring gut health. As healthcare providers look for ways to improve patient outcomes, ensuring a sufficient supply of healthy microbiota will be vital for the success of these treatments in the region.