JEAPARDY QUESTION: “What does plaque on your teeth, the
slippery slime on river stones, the gel-like film on the inside of flower
vases, the unsightly stains in toilet bowls, the gunk that clogs your drains,
otitis media (ear infections) and bacterial endocarditis (infection of the
inner surface of the heart) have in common?”
slippery slime on river stones, the gel-like film on the inside of flower
vases, the unsightly stains in toilet bowls, the gunk that clogs your drains,
otitis media (ear infections) and bacterial endocarditis (infection of the
inner surface of the heart) have in common?”
ANSWER: “Nicole, what are BIOFILMS?”
In Lee’s “Are there Monsters in your drain” blog he
alluded to the issue of bacterial growth in the drains of sinks being the root
cause of outbreaks within healthcare facilities. The bacteria being “splashed” and contaminating
clean surfaces or items could be attributed to biofilm.
alluded to the issue of bacterial growth in the drains of sinks being the root
cause of outbreaks within healthcare facilities. The bacteria being “splashed” and contaminating
clean surfaces or items could be attributed to biofilm.
Biofilm as highlighted above is nothing new to the world
and can be found almost ANYWHERE!
Literally translated, Biofilm means “life slime” and can basically
develop in any environment that has bugs (bacteria, fungi, yeasts, etc), has a
flow of water and has a surface on which to stick. When these bugs adhere to the surface they
excrete a slimy, glue-like substance that helps them stick to all kinds of
surfaces such as metals, plastics, rocks, implanted medical devices, teeth and
tissue.
and can be found almost ANYWHERE!
Literally translated, Biofilm means “life slime” and can basically
develop in any environment that has bugs (bacteria, fungi, yeasts, etc), has a
flow of water and has a surface on which to stick. When these bugs adhere to the surface they
excrete a slimy, glue-like substance that helps them stick to all kinds of
surfaces such as metals, plastics, rocks, implanted medical devices, teeth and
tissue.
Depending on where they are found and what organisms they
are comprised of, biofilms can be dangerous or beneficial. Biofilms are responsible for billions of
dollars in lost productivity due to equipment damage by causing pipes to plug
or corrode, however they can also be used to help treat environmental wastes
such as sewage or be used to manufacture medicines. As a society, we most commonly associate
biofilms with their related infections where biofilms can develop on medical
device surfaces such as catheters, medical implants or wound dressings. However, don’t be fooled, biofilms happily
colonize on many household surfaces such as toilets, sinks, countertops,
cutting boards and coffee pots! Poor
disinfection practices and ineffective cleaning products may increase the
incidence of illness associated with pathogenic organisms commonly found around
the home.
are comprised of, biofilms can be dangerous or beneficial. Biofilms are responsible for billions of
dollars in lost productivity due to equipment damage by causing pipes to plug
or corrode, however they can also be used to help treat environmental wastes
such as sewage or be used to manufacture medicines. As a society, we most commonly associate
biofilms with their related infections where biofilms can develop on medical
device surfaces such as catheters, medical implants or wound dressings. However, don’t be fooled, biofilms happily
colonize on many household surfaces such as toilets, sinks, countertops,
cutting boards and coffee pots! Poor
disinfection practices and ineffective cleaning products may increase the
incidence of illness associated with pathogenic organisms commonly found around
the home.
An outbreak in 1994 that caused hundreds of infections in
asthmatics pushed the concern of biofilms to the forefront. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in its biofilm state
was able to survive the disinfection process during manufacturing of inhalers
and when used by unsuspecting asthmatics, was transported directly to the lung
tissue where it flourished. At least 100
people died from the biofilm infection.
asthmatics pushed the concern of biofilms to the forefront. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in its biofilm state
was able to survive the disinfection process during manufacturing of inhalers
and when used by unsuspecting asthmatics, was transported directly to the lung
tissue where it flourished. At least 100
people died from the biofilm infection.
Closer to my home, in 2000 an outbreak of E.coli O157:H7
killed 7 people and sickened some 2500 residents, many of them children. The drinking water system had been
contaminated by manure following heavy rains and the water treatment system did
not have appropriate levels of residual chlorine to kill the bacteria. During the “clean up” of the town’s
water-mains, flushing and swabbing of 41 kilometers of water-mains was
conducted and it was noted that increased levels of Coliform and other
bacterial populations were being isolated…..biofilm was being sloughed off the
sides of the water mains and continued to contaminate the water. Perhaps the next time your city undergoes
water-main cleaning and / or upgrades during the summer and invariably slows
down traffic you won’t grumble as much.
What are a few extra minutes for your commute when the alternative could
lead to severe diarrhea or possible death?
killed 7 people and sickened some 2500 residents, many of them children. The drinking water system had been
contaminated by manure following heavy rains and the water treatment system did
not have appropriate levels of residual chlorine to kill the bacteria. During the “clean up” of the town’s
water-mains, flushing and swabbing of 41 kilometers of water-mains was
conducted and it was noted that increased levels of Coliform and other
bacterial populations were being isolated…..biofilm was being sloughed off the
sides of the water mains and continued to contaminate the water. Perhaps the next time your city undergoes
water-main cleaning and / or upgrades during the summer and invariably slows
down traffic you won’t grumble as much.
What are a few extra minutes for your commute when the alternative could
lead to severe diarrhea or possible death?
Of course the most well known culprits for biofilm
generation are whirlpool tubs, hydrotherapy tubs or foot spa baths. I can cite several well published outbreaks
associated with piping found in tubs.
Biofilm can be shed from the pipes into the water and if you have sores
or breaks in the skin these may become infected as a result of this exposure. Perhaps now it makes sense why spas tell you
not to shave your legs before a pedicure or other treatment involving a
tub? If that’s not enough, the
circulation of water can aerosolize the bacteria making it easy to inhale and
as noted in the 1994 outbreak of asthmatics, inhaling biofilm bacteria directly
into your lungs is not a good thing!
generation are whirlpool tubs, hydrotherapy tubs or foot spa baths. I can cite several well published outbreaks
associated with piping found in tubs.
Biofilm can be shed from the pipes into the water and if you have sores
or breaks in the skin these may become infected as a result of this exposure. Perhaps now it makes sense why spas tell you
not to shave your legs before a pedicure or other treatment involving a
tub? If that’s not enough, the
circulation of water can aerosolize the bacteria making it easy to inhale and
as noted in the 1994 outbreak of asthmatics, inhaling biofilm bacteria directly
into your lungs is not a good thing!
So now that you’ll never be able to drink tap water, have
a pedicure or kiss your significant other in the morning for fear of coming in
contact with biofilm, let’s talk about how we deal with it. Oxidizing chemistries such as chlorine or
hydrogen peroxide have been recognized as being effective at both removing and
destroying biofilms. Good old fashioned
scrubbing (mechanical removal) can also help to remove most biofilms from
surfaces, however, to completely clean off and remove the biofilm slime
oxidizing chemicals will be needed. The
good news is that biofilms can be removed or destroyed by chemical and
mechanical means with consistent cleaning and disinfection practices. BUT – it
only takes a very short time for biofilm to re-establish itself and then you
have to start the battle all over again.
As Lee suggested in his sink blog, having established procedures that detail
how to clean and disinfect and with what frequency to disinfect areas that are
harbingers of biofilm will help stop their growth and development.
a pedicure or kiss your significant other in the morning for fear of coming in
contact with biofilm, let’s talk about how we deal with it. Oxidizing chemistries such as chlorine or
hydrogen peroxide have been recognized as being effective at both removing and
destroying biofilms. Good old fashioned
scrubbing (mechanical removal) can also help to remove most biofilms from
surfaces, however, to completely clean off and remove the biofilm slime
oxidizing chemicals will be needed. The
good news is that biofilms can be removed or destroyed by chemical and
mechanical means with consistent cleaning and disinfection practices. BUT – it
only takes a very short time for biofilm to re-establish itself and then you
have to start the battle all over again.
As Lee suggested in his sink blog, having established procedures that detail
how to clean and disinfect and with what frequency to disinfect areas that are
harbingers of biofilm will help stop their growth and development.
I hope the next time you stay in a hotel you ask yourself
“When was the last time the lines of the in-room coffee maker were
cleaned?” You may reconsider making
yourself that pot of coffee……and people wonder why I’m a StarBucks girl……
“When was the last time the lines of the in-room coffee maker were
cleaned?” You may reconsider making
yourself that pot of coffee……and people wonder why I’m a StarBucks girl……
Bugging Off!
Nicole
