Biofilms

The antibiotic resistance cycle created by biofilm is the primary reason natural antimicrobial alternatives are worth pursuing. Traditional swab culture may miss biofilm organisms because embedded bacteria may not grow under routine conditions. Antibiotics cannot penetrate and kill biofilms. E. coli survive UTI treatment by embedding themselves in a protective matrix on the inner wall of the bladder. Bacteria inside a biofilm are hidden from both the immune system and antibiotic drugs. Biofilm is described as a protective microbial matrix that can shield bacteria from immune detection and traditional culture methods. Occult infection can exist without fever, dramatic skin findings, or abnormal routine labs. Biofilm is presented as a major reason implant-pocket infection can be difficult to detect. Biofilms are protective colonies of microorganisms that form a structural shell around themselves to evade immune detection. Borrelia and co-infections form biofilm structures that protect spirochetes from antibiotics and immune detection. Biofilms only form on roughened or damaged arterial surfaces, not on smooth, intact artery walls. Fibrinolytic enzymes are needed to break down the fi…