Bacterial infections can form biofilms.  When bacteria form a biofilm, they can become highly resistant to antibiotic treatment.  Read more...

There are many different types of infections, however all begin when microorganisms (such as bacteria and fungi) enter the body and begin to multiply.  To do this, they must overcome the body’s natural defence mechanisms, such as entering through a cut or wound in the skin and/or overwhelming the body’s immune system.  While all infections have the potential to cause illnesses, not all individuals who are infected will become sick. 

Infections can generally be categorized as being either acute or chronic.  Acute or short term infections are generally caused by free-floating microorganisms, while chronic, or persistent infections, are more often than not, associated with bacteria or fungi in a biofilm state.

Biofilms are organized communities of microorganisms that can be found growing on a solid surface, surrounded by a protective layer (slime).  They can be found everywhere in nature where there is a flow of liquid, for example, the slime on rocks in a river or within our bodies, such as in your mouth.

The structure of biofilms essentially provides an element of protection for the organisms found within.  As a result, biofilms responsible for infections have increased resistance to treatments such as antibiotics and disinfectants.  Biofilms can be 1000 times more resistant to antibiotics than the same organism in a free-floating state.

While acute and chronic infections can both be treated using antibiotics, which antibiotic, or combination to use, the method (oral, inhaled, intravenous, etc.) and the amount, can all vary depending on the severity of the infection and which bacteria is causing it. In choosing which antibiotic to use for a particular patient, doctors have routinely relied on their knowledge and experience, with further clarification provided by a laboratory susceptibility test known as the MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) test. 

Understanding that the MIC test results are based on the antibiotic susceptibility of free-floating bacteria however, even though it is known that 80% of all infections are caused by biofilms, we must draw the conclusion that the MIC test may not be providing us with an accurate assessment of which antibiotics will be most effective in preventing or reducing the infection. 

With this knowledge, Innovotech has developed a test specifically to determine the antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial biofilm infections.  Innovotech’s test provides doctors with results for both the biofilm and the free-floating form of the bacteria, providing a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of antibiotic choices and reducing the possibility of increased antibiotic resistance.