Apply a disinfectant, kill the germs — right? It's not that easy. With the advent of modern disinfectants, many of us may feel a false sense of security when using germicides. However scientists are finding germs are apparently smarter, tougher and more organized than anyone ever imagined. Recent discoveries have shown that bacteria on damp surfaces do not remain as isolated and free floating life forms but communicate and colonize with other germs to build a tough, protective biofilm that can withstand even the strongest disinfectants.
Biofilm is a defensive effort in which colonies of similar bacteria protect themselves against chemical assault. The germs cooperate to build and maintain a barrier that keeps even strong disinfectants such as bleach and iodine at bay.
Since the disinfecting or sanitizing agent must be able to access or get to the germs embedded in the biofilm "matrix" that makes up two-thirds of the biofilm, the matrix must be broken down before the germs are vulnerable. That’s where most disinfectants fall short. The presence of disinfectants is what caused the biofilm to occur in the first place; simply applying more only puts the bacteria in a heightened sense of survival mode, thus more biofilm!
Biofilm can live anywhere. Stanford University researchers reported that the germ that causes cholera (Vibrio cholerae) forms a biofilm that enables it to survive in the presence of chlorine in concentrations 1000 to 2000% higher than that found in chlorinated drinking water. Ironically, bacterial biofilms can even colonize biomedical products. Scientific American reports that in 1993, 100 asthmatics died because their inhalants contained Pseudomonas aeruginosa that had formed a biofilm in the tank involved in manufacturing the inhalant. In 1989, bacterium P. cepacia colonized inside of an iodine-based antiseptic solution, causing infections in a Texas children’s hospital.
Bacteria and other microbes require a damp surface to form a biofilm. In our mouths, the biofilm is called plaque. At home you also are likely to encounter biofilm inside water distribution pipes, and under the rims of toilets and urinals. Wet areas surrounding drains and faucets provide ideal conditions for biofilm formation, and so might frequently splashed areas on counters and floors. Biofilms are everywhere.
Disinfectants are not doing the job – they simply designed to kill bacteria, good and bad; thus leading to the defensive reaction by bacteria: Biofilm! This makes bad bacteria stronger, turning them into superbugs that become resistant to the power of the disinfectants
While “green” disinfectant products that are “biodegradable” might be better for the environment, they are not necessarily any better for your home. Bacterial contamination starts to return to surfaces cleaned by anti-bacterial cleaners within five minutes after treatment.
Within one hour, you are right back where you started. All of the cleaners you currently have in your home are creating biofilm.
How do you fight biofilm?
The easiest way is to fight biofilm is to prevent it in the first place, keeping your counters and surfaces dry and free from dirt, grime and grease. But you also need to take biofilm down from the inside. Fighting bacteria with bacteria!
With Innovative Probiotics’ ProKlean products you are harnessing bacteria’s need to communicate with each other to form bonds against the pathogenic variety.
Bacteria communicate rather simply; one bacterium simply pumps DNA right into another bacterium through an exceedingly thin walled tube. This enables bacteria to share genetic memories and innovations very quickly. Bacteria also communicate in a less direct fashion, sending messages to each other that can alter the behavior of millions of other bacteria at the same time.
By managing the levels of beneficial bacteria and applying is sufficient amounts to out compete the pathogenic bacteria through exclusion in an environment, you are redirecting the activity of ALL of the bacteria present, and thus helping to eliminate the need for the creation biofilm. Once this is accomplished, the all-natural emulsifying agents in our ProKlean products simply break down the remaining grease, grime and dirt leaving your surfaces clean and dry.
To learn more contact us at customersupport@innovativeprobiotics.com or visit our resource library.
