A virulent intestinal bacterium that is often resistant to antibiotics is being fought with an age-old practice. Clostridium difficile, or “C. diff,” can sicken or even kill patients, but a fecal transplant can help restore the normal balance of gut bacteria, explains David Heisig, MD, an Upstate gastroenterologist. After screening, slurried stool from a healthy donor is inserted into the patient by colonoscopy, and although much research remains to be done, anecdotal evidence of its effectiveness is strong so far, Heisig said.