You’re pretty savvy about your body and your health. You know about the bacteria and fungi (good and bad) that live in and on our bodies. However, do you know about biofilms? A biofilm formation can occur nearly anywhere, yet most people don’t even know they exist! 

Biofilms are groups of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus, and parasites that are protected by a layer of slime. Once they form, they can be difficult to remove. Those that colonize your gut can be particularly stubborn without the help of biofilm disruptors such as Microb-Clear®

Microb-Clear® is a powerful biofilm disruptor that contains a blend of herbal extracts and fatty acids. I designed this blend around botanical substances that are known biofilm disruptors. I recommended these to support optimal digestive tract health. I’ll circle back to how biofilm disruptors work after I’ve explained what exactly a biofilm is and how it can damage your health.

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What Is a Biofilm?

A biofilm includes three components:

  1. Microorganisms that adhere, or stick, to one another or a surface.
  2. A change in the microorganisms’ state from their single-celled “planktonic” state to their “biofilm state”.1 This alters their activities and how they function together, making them stronger as a unit.
  3. An extracellular matrix or lattice made up of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, and other molecules that aren’t cells. The matrix, or glue, protects the microorganisms inside it and stores the tools it needs to grow stronger.2

Common Examples Of Biofilms

Biofilms grow throughout nature on or within minerals, metals, and plants. They can also form under and above the ground and under and on water. Pond scum is one example of that. Biofilms also form on and in animals and people. A common example is the dental plaque that forms on teeth. Bacterial biofilms also colonize the lining of your nasal passageways and in your GI tract. In fact, your gut is an ideal environment for bacterial biofilms and fungi. That’s because it has a huge surface area and a constant supply of nutrients. 

Your gut is naturally lined with mucus that lubricates and protects it. However, when inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), or Candida overgrowth damages your gut wall, the mucus can also be disrupted. Damaged mucus creates an opportunity for bacterial biofilms to attach to the gut cell wall. There, it creates further damage and increases the likelihood of leaky gut. I’ll discuss this in greater detail later on in this article.

These colonies don’t just attach to living tissue. They often affix to implanted medical devices such as prosthetic heart valves, joint prosthetics, catheters, pacemakers, and even breast implants..3 Devices that can be removed, such as retainers or dentures, are prime candidates for biofilm formation as well.

Where do Biofilms Form?

Bacterial biofilms can grow on minerals, metals, underwater, underground and above ground. A biofilm can form on animal and plant tissues and colonize on implanted medical devices such as catheters and pacemakers. Despite this wide range, each of these distinct surfaces have one thing in common: they’re wet. 

Just about any surface with naturally occurring moisture is the perfect place for biofilms to grow. Even still, a lack of moisture isn’t enough to wipe them out; biofilms have the ability to flourish, disperse, or become dormant depending on changing environmental conditions, which means they can survive drought, changing water temperature, and predators such as insects or fish.4

Because microorganisms are seeded both above and below ground, bacterial biofilms can form virtually anywhere. The moisture, nutrients, and microorganisms biofilms need to form are all around us, on us, and even in us.

How Does Biofilm Formation Happen?

How Do Biofilms Form? – Infographic illustrating how Biofilm formation takes place – Amy Myers MD®How Do Biofilms Form? - Infographic illustrating how Biofilm formation takes place - Amy Myers MD® https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/How Do Biofilms Form? – Infographic illustrating how Biofilm formation takes place – Amy Myers MD®

Biofilm formation begins when microorganisms adhere to the surface of an object in a moist environment. Once attached, they begin to reproduce. They spread along the surface and attach to each other by secreting a slimy, glue-like substance. 

This sticky polysaccharide has sugary molecular strands called extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). This simply means it has tentacles made up of material that is different from the cell it came from and that it exists outside the cell walls.

A Biofilm Formation Contains Diverse Organisms

Biofilm formation can depend on a single kind of microorganism. However, they almost always consist of mixtures of many bacteria species. They also commonly contain fungi, algae, yeasts, protozoa, and other microorganisms. For example, over 500 bacterial species can live in typical dental plaque biofilms. The films can be just a few cells thick. Or, they can build up to many layers over time in the same way coral does. Biofilm formation also tends to trap non-living debris such as microscopic food particles.

How A Biofilm Formation Grows

These colonies function as one well-oiled machine, helping them survive within an environment with other competing organisms. The microorganisms arrange themselves to form open channels through which water and nutrients circulate, and waste products are removed. This is similar to the way your circulatory system works. Bacterial biofilms can even communicate among themselves using a system of chemical signals, so the whole colony gets information.5

Any bacterium can form a film once it finds a place to stick. It seems to be what they want to do. And when a colony reaches a critical point, cells can break away to form a new colony on another surface. This allows them to spread throughout your body.

How Do Biofilms Affect Your Health?

Amazingly, when hidden in a sticky film, bacterial infections can completely resist antibiotics. In fact, their tolerance is at least double — and maybe as much as 1,000 times! — that of solo bacteria.6

Though they are slow-growing, they form phenomenal barriers. A biofilm formation can lie dormant, reemerge, confuse and evade your immune system, and even push medications and antimicrobials out of cells.

Biofilm Removal Is Challenging

Complete biofilm removal is a challenge. That’s because the bacteria or other microorganisms hide in their matrix. The polysaccharide matrix is tough and protects the microorganisms underneath it, acting like a fortress against attack.7 These colonies show increased tolerance to antibiotics, disinfectants, and the body’s defense system over time,8 so the longer they exist, the harder biofilm removal becomes. This is one reason why so many people suffer from chronic infections, despite their best efforts to rid their bodies of these unwanted guests. 

What Conventional Medicine Got Wrong

Though conventional medicine might have given you the impression that bacteria are single cells floating around in your body, this isn’t usually the case. This is because conventional medicine studies bacteria as individuals, not as part of a unit that contains multiple types of organisms and group defenses. In fact, most microbes carry out their jobs within one of these colonies, where they attach to each other to form something that is its own microbiome.

Go Deeper

Discover more about microbiomes in this article.

Some biofilms, like the dental plaque I mentioned previously, are very common. Others, such as ones that can colonize chronic wounds9 or the lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients,10 for example, affect people with compromised immune systems and/or long-term illnesses. Conventional medicine acknowledges these, as well as certain life-threatening conditions such as endocarditis,11 a bacterial infection of the heart that requires acute care, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,12 which requires long-term care. 

However, as I mentioned, the gut is an environment where biofilms can flourish, both as a result of leaky gut and as a cause of this condition. And because conventional medicine focuses on one symptom or issue at time, they fail to make the connection between biofilms, leaky gut, and your whole body. 

What Can You Do about Biofilms?

Now that we know that they exist and the effect they have on our health, we can stop them from causing harm. Luckily, there are ways to prevent them. We are also discovering natural methods of eliminating them by breaking the sticky film down using biofilm disruptors such as herbs and other natural substances. Once we break down the sticky film, we can move them out of your body using your body’s natural detox pathways. 

How to Prevent Biofims From Affecting Your Health – Infographic – Amy Myers MD®How to Prevent Biofims From Affecting Your Health - Infographic - Amy Myers MD® https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/How to Prevent Biofims From Affecting Your Health – Infographic – Amy Myers MD®

Heal Your Gut

Gut biofilm removal can be the most challenging type. Microbes attach to your intestines. There, they form a sticky layer that’s protected from your immune system. Your intestines have a huge surface area where microorganisms can attach. When out of balance, your gut becomes an ideal, warm place to live and grow. Biofilms in your gut even have a steady food source available around the clock, so these can be very hardy, making them extremely stubborn.13

To combat gut biofilms, use the 4R approach that I detail on my blog. The first of the 4Rs is remove. The goal is to get rid of things that negatively affect your gut’s environment, including bacteria, fungi, and the colonies that can form without your knowledge. 

To remove the bad, cut off their food supply and support your immune system by avoiding inflammatory foods such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs, grains, and nightshades. Eliminate toxic foods such as sugar, alcohol, trans fats, food additives, and preservatives. 

However, because biofilms are so stubborn, changes in diet alone are likely not enough. I recommend adding a natural supplement that’s been designed as a biofilm disruptor, such as Microb-Clear®.

Prioritize Hygiene

Biofilm formations build up over time, so the more proactive you are, the less chance they can do harm. The best way to prevent these colonies from forming is to keep yourself clean without the use of antibacterial agents that also kill the helpful bacteria that keep your body in balance. 

Brush your teeth after every meal and get them cleaned by a functional dentist. Thoroughly scrub any removable appliances, as rinsing alone very likely won’t get the job done. Dentures, retainers, and CPAP machines also need more attention than we often give them to ensure they are free from microbes that can create these sticky films.

What is a Biofilm Disruptor?

biofilm disruptors – infographic – Amy Myers MD®biofilm disruptors - infographic - Amy Myers MD® https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/What Is A Biofilm Disruptor? – Infographic showing how a Biofilm Disruptor works – Amy Myers MD®

As I mentioned above, the polysaccharide matrix protecting the pathogenic bacteria is tough to crack; more often than not, standard treatments such as antibiotics and disinfectants are not enough to get rid of these unwanted guests. This is where biofilm disruptors come in.

Simply put, biofilm disruptors infiltrate and literally disrupt the colony of bacteria from within. As individual microorganisms, these bad bacteria are easier to eliminate. A biofilm disruptor then clears out the leftover matrix, minerals, and bacterial DNA of the organisms, ensuring the colony doesn’t reassemble.

An Effective Biofilm Disruptor

My newly reformulated Microb-Clear® is a powerful biofilm disruptor that contains a blend of herbal extracts and fatty acids. It supports microbe balance in the GI tract. It also creates an inhospitable environment for bacterial overgrowth and gut biofilms, making it a fantastic biofilm disruptor. Microb-Clear® does this because it supports your body in creating a favorable environment for beneficial probiotics. These probiotics fight the pathogenic bacteria that dominate your gut when it is out of balance.

The cutting-edge amino acids and botanical extracts in my Microb-Clear® biofilm disruptor support optimal bacterial balance in the gut. They also play a beneficial role in supporting your body to suppress Candida overgrowth and discourage opportunistic parasites for a complete approach to microbiome support and biofilm disruption and removal.

Microb-Clear bottle

Biofilm FAQs

https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

Where are biofilms found in the body?

Biofilms can be found throughout the body on surfaces such as the skin, teeth, and within mucous membranes. Biofilm formation is common, and can be treated with a biofilm disruptor.


https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

What is a biofilm?

Biofilm formation can take place in a variety of locations, from plaque on your teeth to slime buildup in your sink. They can be found in many places all over your body.


https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

How do you treat biofilms?

The first step to treating biofilms is to prevent their formation. Keeping your gut healthy and prioritizing hygiene are two important ways to prevent them. If you already have one, you can use biofilm disruptors such as Microb-Clear®.


https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

How do you address biofilms?

The first step to addressing biofilms is to prevent their formation. Keeping your gut healthy and prioritizing hygiene are two important ways to prevent them. If you already have one, you can use biofilm disruptors such as Microb-Clear®.


https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

How long do you take a biofilm disruptor?

It is recommended that a biofilm disruptor not be taken longer than 1-2 months. More specifically, when taking my Microb-Clear®, there is the risk of experiencing a significant amount of “die off”, which can be an added burden to liver function. Furthermore, while Microb-Clear® is relatively sparing of beneficial probiotic bacteria in the digestive tract, taking it for an extended period of time could cause undue stress on the regular beneficial gut microflora.


https://content.amymyersmd.com/article/biofilms/

What is the best biofilm disruptor?

Biofilm disruptors that can sometimes be found in nature. This would include black walnut and sweet wormwood, a plant that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine. These are just two of the ingredients that are included in my newly formulated Microb-Clear®. The cutting-edge amino acids and botanical extracts in my Microb-Clear® biofilm disruptor support optimal bacterial balance in the gut. It supports microbe balance in the GI tract. It also creates an inhospitable environment for bacterial overgrowth and gut biofilms, making it a fantastic biofilm disruptor.


Article Sources

  1. Bacteria in a Biofilm Have Different Characteristics than the Same Bacteria in Isolation. Alfred B Cunningham, John E Lennox, Rockford J Rose. Biofilms: The Hypertextbook. 2008.
  2. Biofilm Matrixome: Extracellular Components in Structured Microbial Communities. L Karygianni, Z Ren, H Koo, T Thurnheer. Science Direct. 2020.
  3. Breast Implant Illness: A Biofilm Hypothesis. Mark Lee, Ganesa Ponraja, Kevin McLeod, Smathi Chong. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global. 2020.
  4. Where do Biofilms Grow?. Alfred B Cunningham, John E Lennox, Rockford J Rose. Biofilms: The Hypertextbook. 2008.
  5. Biofilms: The Good and the Bad. Joan B Rose. Water Quality & Health Clinic. 2011.
  6. Slimy Clumps of Bacteria Kill Thousands. Scientists are Fighting Back. Usha Lee McFarling. Stat News. 2016.
  7. Curli-Containing Enteric Biofilms Inside and Out: Matrix Composition, Immune Recognition, and Disease Implications. Sarah A Tursi, Cagla Tukel. NCBI. 2018.
  8. Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Biofilms . Niels Hoiby, Thomas Bjarnsholt, Michael Givskov, Soren Molin, Oana Ciofu. NCBI. 2010.
  9. The Role of Bacterial Biofilms in Chronic Infections. Thomas Bjarnsholt. NCBI. 2013.
  10. Pseudomonoas Aeruginosa Biofilms in Cystic Fibrosis. Niels Hoiby, Oana Ciofu, Thomas Bjarnsholt. NCBI. 2010.
  11. Novel Insights into Biofilms in Infective Enocarditis. Fronteirs.
  12. The Role of Biofilms in Chronic Infections. Ronald Hoffman. Clinical Advisor. 2016.
  13. Microbial Biofilms and Gastrointestinal Diseases. Erik C von Rosenvinge, Graeme A O'May, Sandra MacFarlane, George T MacFarlane, Mark E Shirtliff. NCBI. 2013.