We all suffer from more urinary infections when summer arrives, due to the increase in humidity in the urogenital area due to heat and sweat. This happens because the vaginal flora is altered and proliferation and growth of pathogenic bacteria that pass from the perineum to the urethra and bladder can occur. Women are at greater risk of contracting a urinary tract infection than men, since women’s urinary tract is shorter and they are exposed to environmental conditions that facilitate infection. The most common urinary infection is cystitis and it occurs in 50-80% of women and recurs in 25%. As you get older, the probability of suffering recurrent infections is higher. In this article we will talk about what biofilm is and how it affects our health.
What is bacterial biofilm ?
It is a film that bacteria create around them, forming a kind of “mushroom”. They adhere to the surface of the bladder to ensure bacterial survival. In this way they can resist and protect themselves against the individual’s immune response without being completely eliminated with antibiotic treatments. That’s when recurring infections appear .
How is biofilm formed ?
- Adhesion of the bacteria to the surface.
- Division of the bacterium into different cells.
- Formation of a micro colony.
- Secretion of polysaccharides by the micro colony and creation of the biofilm in the form of a “mushroom”.
- Disconnection of the bacteria and return to their original state to start a new cycle of biofilm formation.
Why the biofilm is created?
If the bacteria persist, they form micro colonies that adhere to the epithelium, forming bacterial biofilms as a form of resistance, giving rise to recurrent infections. This is because bacteria in biofilm form can be up to 1,000 times more resistant to antibiotics. So, it is necessary to add biofilm disruptors to the antibiotic treatment to combat them . Good biofilm disruptors are pomegranate, lingonberry, and grape.
How to help in recurring infections?
- Antibiotic treatment.
- Working the environment in which the bacterial biofilms are found , generating a sudden change in pH in order to eliminate them.
- Providing procyanidins and proanthocyanidins ( PACs ) to help prevent the adhesion of biofilms to the bladder surface.
- Take food supplements rich in antioxidants such as cranberry extract, which has an antimicrobial and biofilm -reducing effect .
Vitae solution
At Vitae we care about your health, and as we have mentioned before, we find ourselves with more and more cases of infections when the summer season arrives. That is why, from Vitae, we want to help you enjoy your summer with one of our products: UrinVita .
It is a natural food supplement based on pomegranate extract, grape extract, cranberry and rosemary. Thanks to its proanthocyanidin and procyanidin content, it contributes to the well-being of the urinary system. The extracts of pomegranate, grape, cranberry and rosemary have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activity and a protective effect on the urinary tract. In addition, the synergy of these components helps to break and prevent the adhesion of bacterial biofilms. UrinVita is aimed at women who have recurrent urinary tract infections and/or women who want to help shorten the symptoms caused by the infection.
