Fecal microbiota transplants: emerging social representations in the English-language print media

McLeod, Carmen; Nerlich, Brigitte; Jaspal, Rusi

doi:10.1080/14636778.2019.1637721

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Although emerging interest in the microbiome has been the focus of studies on the language used when informing on microbiome science (McLeod et al, 2019; Nerlich and Hellstewn, 2009), an in-depth content analysis of information on the microbiome in the press during a reasonable period of time is lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How have quality newspapers covered the microbiome? A content analysis of The New York Times, The Times, and El País

Prados-Bo

Casino

2022

Journalism

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The microbiome has captured the attention of researchers and newspapers. We studied how the subject is covered in The New York Times, The Times, and El País via DowJones Factiva (2007–2019), analyzing aspects that included article type, word count, authorship, topic, and citation of researchers, organizations, and journals. We found that 87.6% of newspaper articles (409/467) were news articles and most were longer than 300 words (396; 84.8%), with The New York Times devoting the highest proportion to newspaper articles over 1000 words (99; 45.4%). While basic science findings received the most attention from newspapers from 2007 to 2015, topics related to medicine and nutrition attracted increasing attention from 2016 to 2019. Newspapers showed a domestic preference for their respective researchers, organizations, and journals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How have quality newspapers covered the microbiome? A content analysis of The New York Times, The Times, and El País

Prados-Bo

Casino

2022

Journalism

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“…In doing so, we draw on well‐established contributors to blood donation (attitudes, social norms, self‐efficacy, altruism) 15,17 and factors likely salient for stool donation. These factors include disgust at the thought of donating or collecting stool, 11,32,33 discomfort using a public restroom to have a bowel movement (BM) because donors may be required to give in center, 34 awareness of FMT, 35 and willingness to receive FMT 36 . Considering the relative novelty of stool donation compared to other forms of donation and the findings that impure altruism (helping others, feeling good as a result of helping) may not be the sole driver of donation decisions, 11,25,27,30 we also explore motives for donating drawn from citizen science research.…”

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confidence: 99%

Eligible blood donors’ decisions about donating stool for fecal microbiota transplantation: Does ambivalence play a role?

Hyde

Masser

2020

Transfusion

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Background Blood collection agencies (BCAs) are expanding core business by inviting blood donors to donate stool for fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). However, whether blood donors also want to donate stool is unclear since, despite its benefits, stool donation is viewed by many as unpleasant. This study examined the prevalence, contributors to, and role of these mixed feelings (ambivalence) in stool donation intentions. Study Design and Methods This cross‐sectional study surveyed Australian residents aged 18 years or more who believed themselves eligible to donate blood and met broad criteria for prescreening as a stool donor (eg, healthy, not taking medication). Survey questions assessed attitude, norms, self‐efficacy, motives, disgust, ambivalence, and intentions to donate stool. Results A total of 382 eligible blood donors aged not more than 50 years (mean, 28.71 years; 48% female, 62% “healthy” body mass index) participated. Six percent indicated no ambivalence about donating stool. In regression, significant determinants of ambivalence were less awareness of FMT, lower self‐efficacy, motivated by ensuring that stool is available for loved ones, and more disgust about stool donation. Higher ambivalence contributed to decreased donation intention. Self‐efficacy and disgust differentiated participants with moderate ambivalence, a group likely responsive to intervention, from those with low or high ambivalence. Conclusion Ambivalence about donating stool was common among eligible blood donors. BCAs should raise awareness about stool donation and FMT before requesting donation. BCAs may increase cost savings and donor retention by giving clear guidance about donation requirements and implementing processes that build confidence. Early screening of potential donors for ambivalence and disgust will enable BCAs to provide decision support.

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“…Of Living Fossils and Ancient Feces: Hunting for Hunter-Gatherer Microbiomes Microbiome studies is a newly emerging transdisciplinary field that has captivated both scientists and the general public. A number of recent events have pushed the microbiome to the center of attention: the popularization of the by-now-revised 1970s estimation that microbial cells outnumber human ones by 10∶1 in our bodies, 22 the growing evidence for the complex yet direct influence of the gut microbiome on physical and mental health and, maybe most astonishing to the public, the revelation that fecal transplantation has emerged as the new panacea for often life-threatening infections with Clostridioides difficile (McLeod, Nerlich, and Jaspal 2019). Suddenly, human feces have become a potential medicine.…”

Section: S000mentioning

confidence: 99%

Preserving the Microbial Commons

Rest¹

2021

Current Anthropology

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This article outlines an interdisciplinary research project emerging from biomolecular archaeology interested in the prehistoric spread of dairying in Mongolia, Europe, and the Near East. By comparing the microbes present in ancient and contemporary dairy products, the Heirloom Microbes project is in conversation with two of the most exciting fields of science to the general public: ancient DNA (aDNA)-which promises a new science of history through genomics-and microbiome research-which promises new treatments to some of the most mysterious ailments of industrialized populations. In this encounter the politics of life itself meets the politics of history itself, as I will show through a detailed ethnography of contemporary peasant dairying practices in Switzerland and a discussion of the microbial bioprospecting underway among hunter-gatherer groups like the Hadza of East Africa. Contrary to imaginations of revolutionary ruptures and "missing microbes" prevalent in ancient DNA and microbiome research, I argue for the continuous reproduction of human-microbe relations in millions of multispecies peasant fermentation collectives in most of the world. These microbial commons have to be protected from attempts of patenting and commodification through the collective efforts of scientists and small-scale producers.

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Fecal microbiota transplants: emerging social representations in the English-language print media

Cited by 10 publications

References 48 publications

How have quality newspapers covered the microbiome? A content analysis of The New York Times, The Times, and El País

How have quality newspapers covered the microbiome? A content analysis of The New York Times, The Times, and El País

Eligible blood donors’ decisions about donating stool for fecal microbiota transplantation: Does ambivalence play a role?

Preserving the Microbial Commons

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