Billions of dollars are lost every year due to the ubiquitous growth of microbial biofilms on surfaces. Biofilms contaminate water and air conditioning systems and cause corrosion in oil and gas pipelines. They are responsible for damage to industrial surfaces, and can cause energy loss and contamination of food products. Biofilms cause disease of plants and livestock and pets.
In the health area, over 75% of all human infections emanate from biofilms. Of major importance are:
- Lung infections like pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Persistent wounds
- Tooth decay
- Infections associated with implants and biomaterials
For more information on biofilms, visit Biosignal .