FAQ

The questions below are those that patients ask most often. The answers are short and easy to understand; on any individual question, your treating physician is the one to guide you.

Does the treatment hurt? No. DiffBiome is a capsule taken by mouth — there is no colonoscopy, no enema, no procedure. This is one of the great advantages of oral FMT over the older methods.

How long does the course last? One bottle of DiffBiome contains 30 capsules, which corresponds to roughly a ten-day course, typically with 2–5 capsules a day depending on your classification. In more severe cases a longer or repeated course may be needed — this is determined by your physician. The entire programme of the book is 90 days, because recovery does not end with the course: building up your lifestyle and engraftment also take time.

What can I eat during the course? At the start of the course a gentle diet and plenty of fluids are recommended. As you improve, gradually move to a varied, fibre-rich, plant-based diet — this feeds the beneficial bacteria that are settling in. Fermented foods (kefir, sauerkraut) can also support the flora.

Can I drink coffee or alcohol? Never take the capsule with alcohol or a hot drink, because these can harm the live bacteria. Half an hour after taking the capsule you can return to your usual routine. It is worth avoiding or minimising alcohol during the course; regarding coffee, ask your physician's advice, and do not drink it directly with the capsule.

What if I miss a dose? Don't panic. If you remember, take it as soon as you can, unless it is already close to the time of the next dose — in that case continue with your usual schedule and do not take a double dose. If you miss doses regularly, let your physician know. Keep the diary so you can see the pattern.

Can the infection return after recovery? Unfortunately, with recurrent CDI there is a chance of a repeated relapse, but the DiffBiome course is designed to reduce precisely this risk by restoring the balance of the flora. A maintenance lifestyle — a diverse diet, antibiotic awareness — reduces the chance further. If symptoms appear again, turn to your physician; a repeat cycle is also possible.

Am I contagious to others during the course? DiffBiome itself does not make you contagious. C. difficile itself, however, can spread, so thorough handwashing (with soap and water, not just hand sanitiser) is especially important, particularly after using the toilet. This protects both you and those around you.

Can I take antibiotics during the course? If you are still taking an antibiotic, finish it at least 48 hours before starting DiffBiome — otherwise the antibiotic will also destroy the freshly delivered flora. During the course, only take an antibiotic if your physician expressly prescribes it, and always mention to them that you are on a DiffBiome course.

Can I take probiotics during the course? During the course, probiotic products generally have to be stopped, unless your physician says otherwise. DiffBiome delivers a live, diverse flora, and a probiotic can interfere with this in an undesirable way.

Is it safe during pregnancy or in old age? In older age the treatment can generally be considered, but because of the several concurrent illnesses and medications, more cautious, closer medical supervision is needed. During pregnancy and breastfeeding the data are still limited, so the decision must always be made together with your physician, on an individual basis.

What should I do if my immune system is weakened? The course can be considered in this case too, but with increased monitoring. Report any unusual symptom — even one that seems mild — and stay in closer contact with your physician.

Can I travel with the capsules? Yes. The capsules are products in the SoHO (substances of human origin) category, intended for personal use, and a travel/customs certificate (Medical Recommendation) is available for them, certifying that this is not a medicine but a personal, non-commercial supply. While travelling, keep the capsules in the appropriate, cool storage conditions.

How should I store the capsules? Keep the unopened bottle in a cool, dark place, standing upright. At room temperature (≤25°C) it can be kept for about 6 months, and in the fridge (+4 to +8°C) for up to 24 months. Open the bottle rarely, so that the contents stay protected.

How is DiffBiome different from an ordinary probiotic? Shop-bought probiotics contain a few selected bacterial strains that are usually only transiently present in the gut. DiffBiome, by contrast, delivers a whole, diverse bacterial community — the flora of a rigorously screened, healthy donor — which can engraft durably and restore colonisation resistance, the protection that keeps C. difficile in check. That is why it can help where a probiotic alone is not enough.

Why can FMT work where antibiotics fail? An antibiotic “empties out”: it suppresses C. difficile but does not rebuild the missing, diverse flora, and treatment-resistant spores can reactivate once the drug is stopped. FMT “repopulates”: it replaces the missing community and restores colonisation resistance, so the pathogen has no room left. That is why it can break the cycle of recurrence where antibiotics repeatedly fail.

Why does the infection keep coming back? Behind recurrent CDI is a disrupted gut flora: C. difficile spores resist the antibiotic, and because the competing flora is not there, they multiply again after treatment. Each relapse raises the odds of the next — this spiral is broken by restoring the flora (FMT + lifestyle).

How long until I see results? Symptoms often begin to ease in the first days of the course, but durable remission develops over weeks as the delivered flora settles in. In the first days, transient bloating or changes in stool are normal. The book’s 90-day programme is this long precisely because engraftment and lifestyle-building also take time.

What clinical evidence is there behind DiffBiome? In recurrent C. difficile infection, FMT is among the most effective, best-evidenced treatments, and it is recommended by international clinical guidelines. Studies have shown that FMT given orally in capsules clears the infection at rates comparable to delivery by colonoscopy — so the least burdensome route is also one of the most effective.

What is in a DiffBiome capsule? A thoroughly, multi-step screened whole gut-flora graft from a healthy donor — not a few isolated strains, but a diverse bacterial community. The product is frozen/lyophilised in acid-resistant capsules, so the graft passes through the stomach intact and is released where it needs to act.

Can DiffBiome cause an allergic reaction? The common side effects are mild and transient (bloating, gas, a temporary change in stool). An allergic reaction is rare but possible — if you notice a rash, itching, breathing difficulty or another unusual, sudden symptom, stop taking it and see a doctor immediately.

Do I need a prescription, and how do I obtain it? In Hungary the use of FMT is tied to medical supervision and requires the involvement of a physician experienced in FMT — the treatment and dosing are always determined by a doctor. DiffBiome belongs to the substances-of-human-origin (SoHO) category; it is not an ordinary, freely purchasable medicine. Discuss exactly how to obtain it with your treating physician.

When is DiffBiome NOT suitable? In certain conditions — severe immunodeficiency, an active IBD flare, pregnancy, active oncological treatment — the treatment can only be considered with heightened caution and your physician’s approval. This is why it is important to tell your doctor about every chronic illness and medication before treatment.

How is C. difficile infection diagnosed? The diagnosis combines symptoms (typically several watery stools a day) and a stool test: the laboratory detects the presence of C. difficile and its toxins. It is important that the test be interpreted alongside symptoms — asymptomatic carriage of the bacterium does not necessarily require treatment. Your doctor always makes the definitive diagnosis.

Is there a vaccine against C. difficile? There is currently no widely available, approved vaccine against C. difficile. The best protection is restoring and maintaining the balance of the flora, avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, and proper hygiene.

How long does C. difficile survive on surfaces, and what should I disinfect with at home? C. difficile spores can stay viable on surfaces for a long time, even weeks, and they resist alcohol-based hand sanitiser. So handwashing with soap and water is more effective (the friction washes the spores off), and for surfaces a chlorine (bleach) based cleaner is recommended, especially in the bathroom and around the toilet.

Can my family or my pet catch it? DiffBiome itself is not infectious. C. difficile, however, can spread via its spores, so thorough handwashing and keeping surfaces clean protect those living around you. Healthy people with an intact gut flora rarely fall ill; the risk of catching it from pets is low, but hygiene matters here too.

Do “natural” remedies (garlic, honey, essential oils, fasting) help? There is no reliable evidence that garlic, honey, essential oils or fasting cure C. difficile infection — these should not be relied on as treatment, and fasting in particular should be avoided, because recovery needs nutrients and plenty of fluids. The proven path is restoring the flora (FMT) and a gradual, varied, fibre-rich diet.

Does stress or mental state affect the infection? The gut and the brain are closely connected (the gut–brain axis), so sustained stress can heighten abdominal sensitivity and symptoms — but it does not cause the infection on its own. Managing stress, rest and a predictable daily routine support recovery; if the emotional burden is persistently heavy, talk about it with your treating physician.

When should I see a doctor immediately? If you experience strong or tense abdominal pain, a high fever, confusion, severe dehydration (you barely pass urine, dizziness, weakness), or fresh blood in the stool, do not wait — see a doctor immediately, and in a severe case go to the emergency department. These are the red flags, and they require urgent care.