Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Shows Promise for Chronic Insomnia and Recurrent UTIs

A small double‑blind trial of oral fecal‑microbe capsules in adults with chronic insomnia reported a significant rise in sleep efficiency after one month, with benefits persisting for two to six months and an increase in gut bacterial diversity. The study, led by researchers at the University of Beijing and published in the Journal of Internal Medicine on 22 July 2026, suggests that reshaping the gut microbiome may improve sleep quality.

In a separate case series, researchers in Zurich, Switzerland, and Cologne, Germany, combined bacteriophage therapy with fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) in three women. Phage therapy was administered orally and directly into the bladder, while two patients also received elective FMT to restore a healthy gut microbiome. Over a two‑year follow‑up, the two patients who received the full combination experienced a long‑term reduction in UTIs, with no notable side effects. The findings were published in Nature Microbiology and highlight a novel, microbiome‑focused approach to combat antibiotic‑resistant infections.