The National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that 80% of human infections are caused by microorganisms (bacteria or fungi) in a biofilm state.  These biofilms are organized communities of microorganisms that adhere to a surface and to each other and have an enhanced ability to protect themselves from external environmental influences, attack from the immune system and antibiotics.

Chronic infections are, by definition, infections that persist for a prolonged period of time, which may be weeks or months, as against an acute infection that generally only lasts for a couple of days.  The persistence of chronic infections is facilitated by both the adherent nature of the biofilm community of cells and their ability to protect themselves from the effects of antibiotics and the host immune system.  As such, biofilm based infections can colonize and persist in tissues and organs while continuously releasing free-floating bacteria which perpetuate the infection.  While antibiotics may have an effect on the free-floating bacteria, resulting in a temporary improvement in the infection, their effect on biofilms is reduced, and so the infection persists to the point of being chronic.  The longer the chronic infection goes on, the more damage there will be to tissue at the site of the infection due to the release of byproducts by the microorganisms and their toxic wastes, in addition to the release of toxic compounds by the body’s immune system in response to the infection.

Examples of biofilm-related chronic bacterial infections include lung infections in Cystic Fibrosis patients, foot ulcers in diabetics, infections found in burns and wounds, catheter-related infections such as those found in the urinary tract, the respiratory tract and surgical wound sites, chronic ear infections (otitis media) and sinus infections, gum disease and persistent infections found in artificial joints and other medical implants.

Chronic infections can still be treated using antibiotics, however it is likely that a number of the antibiotics that would be effective on an acute infection (caused by free-floating bacteria) may not be as effective.  Based on the existing MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) test which assesses the susceptibility of only free-floating bacteria to a range of antibiotics, a physician may choose an antibiotic that has no effect on the biofilm, leading to a prolonged treatment time and increased antibiotic resistance.  

Innovotech’s biofilm susceptibility test, however tests both the free-floating and the biofilm form of the bacteria causing the infection, providing a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of the antibiotic treatment.