Understanding Biofilms and How it Affects me!
Have you ever noticed a slimy, sticky substance on a rock in a pond or in the corners of a bathtub or shower? This is a biofilm, and it’s made up of living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and other germs that stick together and grow on surfaces.
Biofilms are all around us, and they can form on many different surfaces, including our skin, teeth, and the inside of our bodies. They can also grow on man-made surfaces, such as wash clothes, dish sponges, pillows, shoes, toothbrushes, medical devices, and all appliances such as dishwashers and laundry machines. Biofilms grow on both wet and dry surfaces.
So, why do these living organisms stick together and form a biofilm? Well, they do it because it provides them with protection and helps them to survive. Biofilms are the protective fortresses in the world of bacteria. When bacteria are on their own, they are vulnerable to being attacked by our immune system or by chemical cleaners such as bleach and ammonia. But when they form a biofilm, they create a protective layer that makes it harder for our immune system or disinfectants to reach them.
Not all biofilms are harmful, but some can cause problems, especially in medical settings. For example, biofilms can form on medical devices, such as catheters or artificial joints, and cause infections that are difficult to treat.
It’s important to understand what biofilms are and how they can impact our health because they are a common problem that affects many people. By learning about biofilms, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing a biofilm-associated infection such as those which are common in the hospital setting. This can include good hygiene practices, such as washing your hands regularly and using a probiotic hand gel, and being careful when using medical devices.
In conclusion, biofilms are strongholds of communities of living organisms that stick together and grow on surfaces. Pathogenic biofilms can be found in many different places and can cause problems, especially in a medical or food preparation setting. By learning about biofilms, you can take steps to protect yourself and reduce your risk of developing a biofilm-associated infection by using probiotic products in leu of chemical disinfectants. Probiotic products are environmentally sustainable since the probiotics within need to be kept alive. Probiotic products are the natural adversaries to pathogens and therefore pathogens do not develop anti-bacterial resistance to each other but they do develop a resistance to all chemical disinfectants such as bleach and ammonia, and to pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics. Probiotics also consume the actual biofilm left behind by the now expired pathogens.
Now that’s a great ending.
Hashtags to follow: #Microbiology #PublicHealth #MedicalScience #BacterialInfections #Prevention #Biofilms #Health #Infections #Hygiene #MedicalDevices
Resources:
Biofilm-forming resistance to industrial disinfectants
Microbial evaluation of biofilms after rinsing and cleaning
Survival of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel surfaces and cross-contamination to foods