Can biofilms be seen by pathologists when they do lab studies? For example, if a human has a biofilm in their colon and does a colonoscopy with biopsies sent to the pathologist, could the doctor doing the scope and/or the pathologist reviewing the biopsy actually be able to identify the biofilm? Or is the biofilm too microscopic for even today's advanced imaging.
Pathologists can sometimes see bacteria and fungi with the routine stain (Hematoxylin and Eosin) used to examine tissue sections, but they would need to do additional different stains on the same biopsy in order to detect the bacteria and fungi reliably. Also, tissue specimens are usually not handled with sterile technique unless cultures are ordered. This results in a possibility of contamination by organisms in the environment while processing the tissue. In addition, the microscope only reveals the shape and staining of microorganisms. With a few exceptions, one would need cultures to determine which genera and species are present.
Microbial biofilms are at the microscopic scale. however, there are several ways to highlight them, as the electron microscopy...
the example of the colon that you gave is not the exception, moreover, this organ shelters biofilms of the normal flora. this means that additional examinations are necessary. Microbiology is one.
@ Seddiki S.M.L agreed, but a typical pathologist protocol would not go into electron microscopy if I'm not mistaken
Dear Russ Broo,
that's right, but some examinations involving microbial films and rectal tumors require electron microscopy
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