(2 min read time )
Did you know that bacteria are clever at hiding? Certain species of bacteria make biofilms – an impenetrable wall to hide behind from antibiotics. This is when you see repeated infections or low grade chronic infections.
We see this commonly in urinary tract infections (UTIs), and since I was previously a sufferer and went through years of repeated infections and antibiotic prescriptions in my 30s. I was able to overcome them with a change in diet, realising what my triggers were. But I was still susceptible because the bacteria was still present under a biofilm and able to take hold if I ate my trigger foods.
Eliminating these bacteria needs a 3 pronged approach –
- remove trigger foods/ lifestyle triggers if known
- antibiotics – the right one for the bacteria present (from test information)
- an agent to break down the biofilms
In the case of UTIs, the most common test result is E.Coli, as we only culture test.PCR tests would show other bacteria, and they would not be targeted by antibiotics targeting e coli, and therefore have the capability to keep an infection going.
Where else do biofilms exist?
Nasal passage – chronic sinusitis
Vagina – candida yeast biofilms and bacteria vaginosis
Gut – pathogenic bacteria biofilms have been studies in inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn’s
Prostrate – prostatitis
Skin – acne
Lungs – cystic fibrosis
Long Covid
Teeth and gums – plaque
and more…
What are biofilms made of?
Polysaccharide, protein eDNA, fibrin and amyloid/ Curli fibres. Different infections have different types. e,g COVID makes amyloid and fibrin biofilms.
Fibrin – the bacteria make fibrin, but we also make fibrin in response to inflammation
Some people make or have more fibrin than others – apart from a higher clotting risk, and CVD risk, they may also show fibromyalgia symptoms, as excess fibrin inhibit proper circulation of oxygen in muscles encouraging the production of lactic acid which can cause pain.
TESTS –
- PCR and NGS testing is available privately via MicrogenDX for urinary tract and vagina which show much more than a culture test that the NHS commonly do.
- Blood tests to show fibrinogen levels and lipoprotein(a) Lp(a)
- Genetic tests – 20% of the general population have a disposition to have more fibrin than others:
- they may overproduce fibrin (Factor II mutation) or Leiden Factor
- or underproduce of plasmin which helps breakdown fibrin
- or have elevated Lp(a) lowers plasmin therefore less ability to breakdown fibrin.
Testing enables us to find out root causes, more knowledge enables informed therapeutic interventions.
Get in touch if you want to find out more.