🩵 Chapter 3: Biofilms

Question 1

Biofilms

Answer 1

communities of microbes that stick together

Question 2

How do biofilms form?

Answer 2

microorganisms adhere to a surface producing a slimy matrix that protects them from the environment

Question 3

Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS)

Answer 3

a sticky mix of molecules made from cells in a biofilm

Question 4

What are the problems with biofilms in medical microbiology?

Answer 4

1. Antibiotic Resistance
2. Immune Resistance

Question 5

What’s the problem with antibiotic resistance?

Answer 5

antibiotics can’t penetrate a biofilm beyond the top few layers, and once treatment stops, the bacteria regrows

Question 6

What’s the problem with immune resistance?

Answer 6

can’t kill cells in lower layers

Question 7

Normal Microbiota

Answer 7

protective bacteria that doesn’t cause disease covering the surface of the skin

Question 8

Staphylococcus Epidermis

Answer 8

type of normal microbiota that maintains the skin health and homeostasis

Question 9

Why do implanting medical devices increase the risk for biofilms?

Answer 9

Staphylococcus Epidermis can form strong biofilms so they can contaminate inserted medical devices causing exposure to biofilms leading to infection