Diverticulitis

Over 50% of adults over the age of 60 have small, bulging pouches in their colon wall, known as diverticula. Three percent of these individuals will develop infection or inflammation in these pouches. Once these pouches have become inflamed the condition is called diverticulitis.

Patients with diverticulitis can experience:

The onset of inflammation within diverticula can occur from bacterial disease or damage to the diverticula tissue, causing diverticulitis. Multiple factors can increase the risk of developing diverticulitis like: obesity, smoking, a low-fiber diet, heavy alcohol intake, lack of exercise, and low vitamin D levels.

Uncomplicated diverticulitis is a less severe form of diverticulitis, characterized by localized inflammation without systemic complications or organ damage. Treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis can typically be done at home and may or may not include oral antibiotics, along with a liquid diet and medication for pain relief until symptoms improve. Complicated diverticulitis has severe symptoms and can lead to serious sequela, with recommended treatments ranging from oral or IV antibiotics to surgery.

ACT research partners at the University of Massachusetts have a trial underway to determine the safety of Fecal Microbiota Transplant (FMT) for patients with diverticulitis.