The final system we are covering is the digestive system. I want to point out that we do not digest what we eat on our own, we have many microorganisms within our digestive system, mainly bacteria, helping us out. These bacteria are called "flora" within the intestines and help to maintain healthy digestive tracts. However, recent outbreaks of
Clostridium difficile have caused problems for patients over the years. The first link I have provided gives some details about what
C. difficile is, so I won't say much here. Basically
C. difficile is an antibiotic resistant "super bug" that invades the digestive system in recent hospital patients, or in patients that have taken antibiotics to the extent that their normal flora are reduced enough to allow
C. difficile to invade. To counter this problem, a very unique treatment has been discovered to work... fecal transplants. Yes it is as disgusting as it sounds, but it works in restoring normal flora in the body while patients are treated for the removal of
C. difficile. Details are discussed in the second link that I provide. Fecal transplants are typically prepared from family or close friends who live with the patient, because they would share the same environment and foods, therefore their flora would be very similar. Not many doctors perform this procedure, but as
C. difficile becomes a bigger threat, the procedure is being used more and more.
http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/what-is-c-difficile
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15113440
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