Can washed microbiota transplantation help a child with malnutrition and resistant infections?
Washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) is a procedure that transfers processed gut bacteria from a healthy donor into a patient's gut to restore a healthy microbiome. In a single case report, an 8-year-old boy with severe malnutrition and a lung infection caused by multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida tropicalis improved after receiving WMT along with standard treatments 49. However, this is only one case, and WMT is not yet a standard therapy for malnutrition or resistant infections. More studies are needed to know if it works for other children.
What the research says
A 2026 case report describes an 8-year-old boy with chronic malnutrition and a central nervous system disorder who developed recurrent pneumonia from ESBL-producing multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida tropicalis 49. Despite antibiotics, breathing support, and nutrition through a tube, his infection and nutrition worsened, and he developed sepsis and antibiotic-associated diarrhea 49. Doctors then gave him two courses of washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) through a nasojejunal tube. After WMT, his infection gradually improved, his nutritional status stabilized, and he was discharged from the hospital 49. The authors note that WMT was part of a multimodal treatment that also included continued antibiotics, respiratory support, and nutritional rehabilitation, so the exact contribution of WMT alone is unclear 49.
Gut microbiome research in malnourished children has found that certain bacteria, such as elevated Pseudomonadota levels, are linked to severe acute malnutrition 1. This suggests that restoring a healthy gut microbiome might help improve nutrition and fight infections. However, the case report is the only direct evidence for WMT in this specific scenario. Other studies on malnutrition focus on different interventions, such as oral nutritional supplements for older adults 6 or early supplemental parenteral nutrition in ICU patients 7, and do not address WMT.
Overall, the evidence for WMT in malnourished children with resistant infections is very limited. The case report provides promising results, but it is not enough to recommend WMT as a standard treatment. Doctors would need to consider it on a case-by-case basis, weighing potential risks and benefits.
What to ask your doctor
- What are the potential benefits and risks of washed microbiota transplantation for my child's specific condition?
- Are there any clinical trials or centers that offer WMT for children with malnutrition and resistant infections?
- What other treatments are available to manage resistant infections and improve nutrition in my child?
- How is WMT performed, and what is the recovery process like for a child?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.