Sacramento Area-Based AdvancingBio Launches to Help Patients with Clostridium dIfficile
Over 350,000 Affected in the US
Sacramento, CA – More than 350,000 cases of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a dangerous and potentially fatal gastrointestinal bacterial infection, are diagnosed in the United States every year, killing over 15,000 people.
AdvancingBio, a not-for-profit organization that offers a treatment to patients suffering from C. diff, announces its launch with the opening of its stool collection and processing facility in Mather, CA, near Sacramento. The facility provides a unique resource for healthcare partners to treat patients with recurrent C. diff using Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT).
C. diff is a bacterium that can cause swelling and irritation of the large intestine, or colon. This inflammation, known as colitis, can lead to severe diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. The infection is most common in people who are taking antibiotics or have taken them recently, but it also can be transmitted to other people when they come into contact with infected patients or contaminated surfaces, especially if proper hygiene is not practiced.
“There is an emerging need for resources to treat patients suffering from C. difficile, which can be a very aggressive and life-threatening infection,” said Donny Dumani, MD, who oversees all medical aspects of AdvancingBio. “AdvancingBio was created with the mission to provide services to those in need. Our focus is to provide vital resources to healthcare partners who in turn perform fecal microbiota transplants to heal the growing number of patients with C. diff.”
FMT involves the transfer of a healthy microbiome, or the good bacteria present in carefully screened and tested donor stool, including the totality of microorganisms and their collective genetic material. FMT has been shown to deliver a 90+% cure rate.
The donor screening and donation process takes approximately less than 30 minutes. Donors will receive pre-donation educational material and instructions, then proceed to a confidential medical history review by a licensed AdvancingBio staff member. A blood draw will be conducted for infectious disease testing, and then the donor will be provided a clean, private facility for the donation. Eligibility requirements to donate stool are assessed at the time of donation and include feeling well and healthy, being free from cold and flu-like symptoms for 14 days, being between 18 – 65 years old and having a Body Mass Index less than 35.
“The immediate availability of thoroughly screened products that meet the current FDA requirements for our patients with recurring C. difficile is more than welcome,” said R. Erick Pecha, MD, partner at Gastroenterology Medical Clinic in Folsom. “It is long overdue.”
AdvancingBio is open to donors Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT. For more information or to become a donor, please visit advancingbio.org or call (844) 426-7264.
About AdvancingBio
Established in 2015, AdvancingBio is a not-for-profit organization that operates a stool collection and processing facility which provides a unique resource for healthcare partners to treat the growing number of patients suffering from Clostridium difficile infection (C. diff). More than 350,000 cases of C. diff are diagnosed in the U.S. every year, and over 15,000 people die each year from this aggressive bacterial infection. Schedule an appointment or learn more at 844.426.7264 or advancingbio.org.
About Clostridium difficile Infection and Fecal Microbiota Transplant
Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacteria that causes swelling and irritation of the large intestine, or colon and more than 15,000 people die from this infection each year. This inflammation (known as colitis) can cause severe diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The infection is most common in people who are taking antibiotics or have taken them recently, and can also be transmitted if proper hygiene is not practiced. Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) involves the transfer of a healthy microbiome or the good bacteria present in carefully screened and tested donor stool, including the totality of microorganisms and their collective genetic material, from a donor to a patient suffering from C. diff.
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Alexander Sigua
916.453.3677 | 916.220.1984 (cell)
communications@advancingbio.org
advancingbio.org
