Skip to content

The GRAFT Study: Gut RecolonizAtion by Fecal Transplantation

A Phase II Randomized, Double-blind Placebo-controlled Trial to Determine if Fecal Microbiota Transplantation is Efficacious for Hospitalized Patients With C. Difficile Infection History During Antibiotic Treatment

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03621657
Acronym
GRAFT
Enrollment
1
Registered
2018-08-08
Start date
2019-03-21
Completion date
2020-02-27
Last updated
2021-03-15

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

CDI, C.Difficile Diarrhea, Clostridium Difficile Infection

Keywords

FMT, Fecal Microbiota Transplant

Brief summary

The primary objective of this study is to compare the gut microbiota and clinical outcomes of oral FMT during antibiotic treatment, immediately following antibiotic treatment, and placebo. The second objective is to assess the safety and feasibility of daily oral Fecal Microbiome Transplant (FMT) as a treatment option.

Detailed description

Clostridium difficile is the most frequent bacterial cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Those with a previous C. difficile infection (CDI) are at high risk of recurrent infection. Recurrent CDI often occurs when the normal gut microbiota are disrupted. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota predisposes to CDI which, despite treatment can recur in 30% of patients. A novel way to prevent CDI recurrence is by instilling feces from a healthy individual into the intestine of the CDI patient, thereby restoring balance in the gut microbiota. However, it is unknown whether or not fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an efficacious choice for CDI recurrence prevention when used concurrently with antibiotics. We propose a pilot randomized, double-blind placebo controlled trial comparing oral FMT with placebo in patients with a history of CDI, currently undergoing antibiotic treatment. We will collect fecal samples from subjects prior to, during, and after FMT and collect metagenomics and microbiologic data on microbiota composition and function, and CDI recurrence. The trial's primary outcome is gut microbial composition and function. Secondary outcomes are feasibility and safety, and recurrent CDI during the trial period. In this 3 group study, FMT will be administered daily via oral capsules containing frozen fecal microbiota from universal donors in group 1, administered at the end of antibiotic treatment for group 2, and group 3 will receive daily placebo. The results of this study will provide the necessary pilot data to examine whether or not concurrent FMT in antibiotic treated patients who are at high risk for recurrent CDI can maintain a diverse healthy GI microbiota.

Interventions

DRUGLow Dose FMT Capsule DE

5 FMT Capsule DE along with antibiotic; followed by five capsules FMT Capsule DE x 7 days post-antibiotic course.

DRUGSingle Dose FMT Capsule DE

30 pill FMT Capsule DE treatment x 1, 48-72 hours following completion of antibiotic treatment.

DRUGPlacebo oral capsule

Five capsules per day along with antibiotic; followed by five capsules per day for seven days post-antibiotic treatment.

Sponsors

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
CollaboratorFED
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Intervention model description

This is a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial assessing the effects of either daily (group 1) or one-time (group 2) oral FMT on the composition and function of gut microbiome compared to placebo (group 3) in a population of patients with a history of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Cognitively intact and willing to provide informed consent 2. Willing and able to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study 3. Able to take oral medications 4. Age 18 or over 5. Recent CDI episode occurring in the last 180 days with completion of therapy as confirmed by the electronic medical record (EMR) 6. Receiving antibiotics at enrollment for reasons other than CDI and having taken the antibiotics for no longer than 10 days. 7. Women of childbearing potential in a sexual relationship with men must use an acceptable method of contraception (including, but not limited to, barriers with additional spermicidal foam or jelly, intrauterine devices, hormonal contraception started at least 30 days before enrollment into the study, or intercourse with men who underwent a vasectomy) for 4 weeks following completion of the study treatment, 8. Males must agree to avoid impregnation of women during and for 4 weeks following completion of the study treatment. 9. Able to take the test capsule successfully with no signs or symptoms of dysphagia.

Exclusion criteria

1. Females who are pregnant, lactating, or planning to become pregnant during the study. Female patients of childbearing potential will take a pregnancy test at the intervention visit and will be excluded if pregnant. 2. Inability (e.g. dysphagia) to or unwilling to swallow capsules 3. Known or suspected toxic megacolon and or known small bowel ileus 4. Bowel obstruction or other gut motility issues occurring in the last two weeks taht are unresolved as noted by the patient or in the EMR 5. Major gastrointestinal surgery (e.g. significant bowel resection) within 3 months before enrollment not including appendectomy or cholecystectomy. 6. History of bariatric or colectomy surgery 7. Concurrent intensive induction chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or biologic treatment for an active malignancy. Patients on maintenance chemotherapy may be enrolled after consultation with the medical monitor. 8. Expected life expectancy less than 6 months. 9. Patients with severe anaphylactic or anaphylactoid food allergy. 10. Solid organ transplant recipients ≤90 days post-transplant or on active treatment for rejection 11. Neutropenia (≤500 neutrophils/mL) or other severe immunosuppression. Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) will be permitted. Patients on monoclonal antibodies to B and T cells, glucocorticoids, antimetabolites (azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, methotrexate), calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus, cyclosporine), and mycophenolate mofetil may only be enrolled after consultation with the medical monitor. 12. At risk of CMV/EBV associated disease, negative immunoglobulin gamma (IgG) testing for cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) 13. Any other gastrointestinal illness including diarrhea 14. On oral vancomycin or metronidazole 15. Having been taking the currently prescribed antibiotic for over 10 days 16. Any condition that would jeopardize the safety or rights of the patient, would make it unlikely for the patient to complete the study, or would confound the results of the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Assess Efficacy of Oral FMT on Composition and Function of the Gut Microbiota Compared to Placebo.60 daysAssess microbial composition of stool using 16s targeted sequencing and shotgun metagenomics

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Comparison of Treatment-related Adverse Events in the Oral FMT Regimens Versus Placebo.60 daysProportion of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0, including serious adverse events, will be assessed. We will also assess proportion of newly diagnosed infectious diseases, which are considered adverse events of special interest (AESI) after randomization.
Determine the Rate of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) During Oral FMT Regimens Versus Placebo60 daysCollection of CDI infection rates from baseline to end of study and comparison between both oral FMT groups versus placebo.
Evaluate Time to Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) and/or Colonization With C. Difficile.60 daysC. difficile colonization will be detected in stool samples submitted at baseline through end of study. If patients' become colonized, time from randomization to colonization is collected. Comparisons are made between the oral FMT groups and placebo.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Low Dose FMT Capsule DE
FMT Capsule double-encapsulated (DE) by mouth, 5 capsules once daily with antibiotic, followed by 5 capsules daily for 7 days post-antibiotic Low Dose FMT Capsule DE: 5 FMT Capsule DE along with antibiotic; followed by five capsules FMT Capsule DE x 7 days post-antibiotic course.
0
Placebo Oral Capsule
Oral placebo capsules manufactured to mimic study capsule, 5 capsules daily with antibiotic course, followed by 5 capsules for 7 days post-antibiotic Placebo oral capsule: Five capsules per day along with antibiotic; followed by five capsules per day for seven days post-antibiotic treatment.
0
Single Dose FMT Capsule DE
FMT Capsule DE by mouth, 30 capsules in a single one-time dose 48-72 post-antibiotic course. Single Dose FMT Capsule DE: 30 pill FMT Capsule DE treatment x 1, 48-72 hours following completion of antibiotic treatment.
1
Total1

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicLow Dose FMT Capsule DEPlacebo Oral CapsuleSingle Dose FMT Capsule DETotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
EG002
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 00 / 00 / 1
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 00 / 01 / 1
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 00 / 00 / 1

Outcome results

Primary

Assess Efficacy of Oral FMT on Composition and Function of the Gut Microbiota Compared to Placebo.

Assess microbial composition of stool using 16s targeted sequencing and shotgun metagenomics

Time frame: 60 days

Population: There are no results due to low enrollment (N=1).

Secondary

Comparison of Treatment-related Adverse Events in the Oral FMT Regimens Versus Placebo.

Proportion of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0, including serious adverse events, will be assessed. We will also assess proportion of newly diagnosed infectious diseases, which are considered adverse events of special interest (AESI) after randomization.

Time frame: 60 days

Population: There are no results due to low enrollment (N=1)

Secondary

Determine the Rate of Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) During Oral FMT Regimens Versus Placebo

Collection of CDI infection rates from baseline to end of study and comparison between both oral FMT groups versus placebo.

Time frame: 60 days

Population: There are no results due to low enrollment (N=1)

Secondary

Evaluate Time to Clostridium Difficile Infection (CDI) and/or Colonization With C. Difficile.

C. difficile colonization will be detected in stool samples submitted at baseline through end of study. If patients' become colonized, time from randomization to colonization is collected. Comparisons are made between the oral FMT groups and placebo.

Time frame: 60 days

Population: There are no results due to low enrollment (N=1)

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026