| Biofilms is what we are talking about today. There | | | | tract can secrete this biofilm structure as a way |
| will be two segments discussing biofilms since this | | | | to survive over long periods of time. The |
| topic is very lengthy. Biofilms have recently been | | | | mucousy layers of biofilm make it very hard to |
| discovered as an issue in medicine over the past | | | | get rid of the yeast and bacteria Biofilms are also |
| number of years, especially in the hospital setting | | | | problematic in the hospital setting since they can |
| where it can be the source of chronic infections. | | | | develop on hospital instruments including plastic |
| However the issue of biofilms is not new to the | | | | items like catheters and even metal utensils as |
| world of engineering and specifically water | | | | well. In this way, biofilms tend to be a source of |
| treatment facilities. Biofilms have been understood | | | | recurrent infections. Biofilms is clearly an area that |
| as a source of water contamination for a long | | | | has been recognized as needing more research. |
| time and not the medical field is starting to | | | | Biofilms are particularly problematic in children with |
| recognize it more as well. | | | | Autism in that many of them have chronic |
| So what are biofilms really? Biofilms are filmy | | | | problems with yeast and bacteria in the digestive |
| substances secreted by pathogens like yeast and | | | | tract. Biofims may be one more reason why |
| bacteria. The biofilm surrounds the yeast and | | | | these infections of yeast and bacteria are so hard |
| bacteria to act as a defense mechanism and also | | | | to resolve. Unless the biofilm is addressed as well, |
| to aid in communication from one cell to another. | | | | the yeast and bacteria can continue to survive. |
| In the body biofilms can accumulate on areas that | | | | So biofilms can be very problematic in relation to |
| have been burned or on ulcerations. The yeast | | | | chronic yeast and bacterial infections in Autism, |
| and bacteria can settle in those areas and can | | | | but there are treatment protocols out there to |
| develop biofilm. The same thing is true for the | | | | address this. |
| digestive tract. Yeast and bacteria in the digestive | | | | |