Kiang Ku Hospital (KWH) Gastroenterology Department Head Yu Hon Ho told reporters yesterday that the hospital’s Gut Microbiota* Treatment Centre is in the process of launching standardised and large-scale Faecal Microbiota Transplantation **(FMT) and Washed Microbiota Transplantation*** (WMT) therapies, adding that the centre is expected to be officially operational in late February.
Dr Yu made the remarks during yesterday’s ceremony marking the opening of the KWH Hospital Microbiota Treatment Centre at the private hospital’s Dr Henry Y. T. Fok Specialist Medical Centre.
Dr Yu noted that the centre has already begun collecting data from suitable patients and is currently preparing for the transition towards its fully-fledged operations, pointing out that the centre will recruit students aged under 23 from local campuses as screened donors.
Dr Yu added that the FMT and WMT therapies target a range of diseases for which traditional treatments have shown limited efficacy, including digestive system-related disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and neurological conditions like childhood autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and adult Parkinson’s disease, adding that the therapies also address multi-system disorders, for instance, abnormal bowel movements such as diarrhoea accompanied by insomnia, aiming to enhance both treatment efficiency and patients’ quality of life.
Dr Yu pointed out that while these related diseases are not considered extremely common in Macau, there is, however, a significant number of patients. Some local children with autism have sought similar in the Chinese mainland with notable results, showing improvements in self-care abilities, Dr Yu said.
Kiang Wu Hospital Vice President Cheung Chun Wing said in a speech during the opening ceremony that his hospital has dispatched a study team to the Microecology Medicine Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University to receive training in WMT technology, including donor screening, laboratory procedures for bacterial preparation and full-cycle perioperative care, which will help establish a comprehensive knowledge system covering “diagnosis and treatment – procedures – nursing care.”
In a medical context, perioperative care comprises all aspects related to patient management before, during, and after surgery to ensure optimal outcomes and minimise complications.
Dr Cheung pointed out that a substantial number of patients with conditions like autism and inflammatory bowel disease still face limited treatment options in Macau. Introducing standardised WMT technology to local clinical practices and establishing a safe, efficient diagnosis and treatment platform will provide patients with a new treatment choice, Dr Cheung added.
Meanwhile, the Gut Microbiota Therapy Seminar, co-organised by the Macao Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Kiang Wu Hospital, which was held after the opening ceremony, aimed to enhance the relevant knowledge of local healthcare professionals.
*Gut Microbiota refers to the vast and complex community of trillions of microorganisms (microbes) that live symbiotically within the gastrointestinal tract, primarily in the large intestine (colon). - DeepSeek
** Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) is a medical procedure that involves transferring processed faecal matter from a healthy, carefully screened donor into the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient. -DeepSeek
*** Washed Microbiota Transplantation is a refined and purified form of FMT that uses a standardised laboratory washing process to deliver the concentrated preparation of beneficial bacteria while potentially improving safety and consistency. - DeepSeek
Kiang Ku Hospital (KWH) Gastroenterology Department Head Yu Hon Ho (first from right), KWH Vice President Cheung Chun Wing (third from right) and other attendees pose for a group photo during yesterday’s opening ceremony for the private hospital’s Microbiota Treatment Centre at the Dr Henry Y. T. Fok Specialist Medical Centre. – Photo: Ida Cheong
