Educational Page

This page is always under construction....

 

1.  Bacteria Laden Biofilms

 

Wounds that don't heal, especially after surgery.

Bacteria laden biofilms externally exhibit themselves as wounds that won't heal.  In Julie's case the skin erupted with a clear to slightly yellowish fluid wept out of the wound and the surrounding internal tissue became "fryable, like wet tissue paper and was destroyed.   Many attempts were made to correct the issue by cutting out the "bad tissue" and suturing the wound together again.   However, In a few weeks the cycle would repeat, a bubble would form and rupture on the skin's outer surface, the arm would again leak more clear-ish fluid, more tissue would be dissolved and need to be removed, usually from a new and different site.  Once the next site was repaired, the fluid would again build up and find a new weaker site to break through the skin.  An endless cycle of leaking wounds, antibiotic treatments and Incision/Debrisments continued for about 1 year.  Antibiotics and even hyperbaric oxygen treatments could not stop this cycle.

Any bacteria cultures taken from the skin, fluid, or dissolved tissue, would NEVER show any bacteria growth.  Even bacteria cultures lasting over a month would be taken from inside the arm, including scraping the metal prostheses to gather a sample would not exhibit any bacterial growth.  Still the entire affected area "acted like a bacterial infection".  Lots of weeping/spurting fluid and the dissolving internal tissue that eventually had to be removed.  This is the first clue that a BIOFILM is at work. 

 

This is what to look for on the surface of the skin:

   This elbow wound site is measured in inches.  Note the clear dome of the breakout point.

The problem with a biofilm is that it colonizes a foreign body, such as an implant.  It then forms a colony that transfers RNA laterally; no cells are "shed" in sufficient number to be detected.  That is why when a doctor takes a bacterial sample, it comes back negative, showing no bacteria present.  The bacteria "condominium" turns into a "super bug" and is so strongly attached to the prostheses, knee replacement, hip replacement, elbow replacement, etc, that it never comes off, continues to grow and does all the damage of a major bacterial infection.  It is also extremely resistant to any and all antibiotics. It may be suppressed by antibiotics, but once the antibiotics are stopped, the infection reappears. In Julie's case, our surgeon said, that the infection was so bad and so widespread by the time we found him, that she would have lost her arm in another month or two if not her life. He immediately operated to remove the prosthetic and biofilm. In his case notes I noticed the surgical team all changed gowns in between removal of the old prostheses and installing the new prostheses.  There are lots of details in successfully handling a biofilm infection case.  So find an expert.

 

In our case, I found the right doctor through discussions with Montana State University's R&D Biofilm department after reading research papers and searching for almost 1 1/2 years. And yes, post surgery, we sent off part of the prosthesis to confirm that a biofilm was present and it was, the colonizing "critter" was staph.  The biofilm was found to reside exactly where the tissue was breaking down, on a plastic bearing component.  We did search out many other possible causes including metallic and polymeric allergies, but these tests (and we created a few) all came back negative for causing the infection.

The point of this story is, if you have a non-healing wound and you have gone to hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and tried the entire world of possibilities to heal the wound, save yourself some time and find a doctor who is familiar with biofilms. 

 

The bad news is most likely the entire prostheses may have to be removed as it has been colonized and there is nothing short of removal that will correct this at least as of September 2004.  In our case, the good news was that once the old prostheses was removed and replaced, Julie's problem was also gone, but she lost more bone and tissue in the process. More importantly, she kept her arm and her life. 

The other really good news, in my mind at least, is that there are lots of people considering amputations that can absolutely keep their limbs, if they find the right surgeon.  This information is new and not widely accepted.  Not all Orthopedic Doctors will believe it.  But the data speaks for itself. 

Find a Biofilm expert, save your limb.  It is also very important that the surgical doctor have a team, especially a hematologist and immunologist.  If you have a biofilm you'll need to make sure once it is removed you do everything possible to minimize any chance of it reoccurring. This may mean including as much as a six month regime of antibiotics post surgery.  This is something that you can now do in your home and is no big deal. Ask your surgeon about biofilms if you exhibit any of these symptoms. 

 

 

About Montana State University:

Montana State University has a center for Biofilm Engineering and is a place where I began to find multiple answers. This is their "home website".

http://www.erc.montana.edu/default.htm

 

As an example, this is an article dealing with biofilms, from their website.

 

http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/recent-media-cov/Delude060602.htm

 

Center for Biofilm Engineering

Culprit in Ear Infections is a 'Biofilm' that Protects Bacteria

 

Abstract:  

"Human Leukocytes Adhere, Penetrate, and Respond to Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms" 

Staphylococcus aureus is a common pathogen responsible for nosocomial and community infections. It readily colonizes indwelling catheters, forming microbiotic communities termed biofilms. S. aureus bacteria in biofilms are protected from killing by antibiotics and the body’s immune system. For years, one mechanism behind biofilm resistance to attack from the immune system’s sentinel leukocytes has been conceptualized as a deficiency in the ability of the leukocytes to penetrate the biofilm. We demonstrate here that under conditions mimicking physiological shear, leukocytes attach, penetrate, and produce cytokines in response to maturing and fully matured S. aureus biofilm.
 

Leid, J.G., M.E. Shirtliff, J.W.Costerton,  and P. Stoodley,  "Human Leukocytes Adhere, Penetrate, and Respond to Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms," Infect. and Immun., 70(11): 6339-6345 (2002).

 

Dr. “Bill” Costerton is now the Director of  Univ Southern California - Center for Biofilms. 

A great starting book on biofilms is:

 

      The Biofilm Primer, J. William Costerton, April 19, 2007, Springer Series.

 

 

Note: The slide that follows is from my presentation detailing the latest information we have learned for problematic surgeries to resolve biofilms over high wear areas.  In this case the articulating surface over an elbow replacement.  At issue was the constant failure of donated tissue covering the implant allowing re-infection and causing total removal and replacement of the prosthesis.  The new type of free flap is a key discovery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  RSD or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome 

 

In 2004 Julie was diagnosed with RSD types I & II following her ~ 40^th operation. At that time she was unable to get up off the couch for more than 15 minutes a day, for months.  She was having 2 spinal blocks per week and her doctors thought she should try a  sympathectomy to destroy her sensory nerve in order to relieve her pain. This all changed after the InterX 5000 (Transdermal Scanner) pilot study.

 

We know something about RSD or CRPS in our family, to say it's terrible is an understatement.  If you are reading this, I assume you already know too much about RSD/CRPS.

 

The RSD/CRPS types I & II that Julie was diagnosed with did not have sores breaking out yet.  So we can not speak to the more advanced RSD cases.  What is important is that since she began using the Transdermal Scanner /COSMODIC, Glyconutrients, and Ochs Lab’s LENS, her burning pain has greatly diminished and color is restored to her affected limbs.

  

We were told that RSD is not curable. However, based on our results, we're beginning to think that , maybe RSD is very manageable.  We will simply note the fact that the burning pain has all but disappeared and life is getting a lot better.

 

 

3.  PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, has been successfully addressed using two techniques, EFT/EMDR ("Tapping Meridian Points") and most  spectacularly with Ochs Labs, LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System).  Dr. Len Ochs is as phenomenal and are his classes on the LENS system. You could spend years in classical treatments, or get great results fast with the brain mapping effects of the LENS.  It also addresses pain. Please visit his website to learn more.

 

EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy, are similar techniques that have unbelievably fast results to "lower the sting" of traumatic memories.  We were introduced to this by Lynda Kirk who operates Austin Biofeedback Center and is the past president of the AAPB, Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.  Lynda has her own modified version of EFT/EMDR and in two sessions changed Julie's response from absolute terror / hyper-vigilance when sudden sounds occurred, to setting off July 4th fireworks from her wheelchair, which she no longer needs or uses.  Considering her trauma was induced when she was shot twice by a .270 deer rifle, setting off fireworks and being able to enjoy July 4th was a major improvement.  This was recommended to us by a Police Officer who was shot in the line of duty and also a photographer covering the Columbine tragedy.  The technique seems a bit odd at first glance, tapping and singing "row, row, row your boat" while simultaneously look up, down and sideways peels away the trauma layers like an onion, spreading out highly localized traumatic memories into more diffuse locals where their mental impact diminishes.  It is amazing to observe and more importantly, it works.

 

For a great primer and source for a free do it yourself EFT manual use the following link. 

 

http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse.htm

 

 

4.  10-20 Sites and their Key Functions

 

From "Getting started with Neurofeedback", Demos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Useful Links:

 

LENS:

http://www.ochslabs.com/intro.php

 

http://www.stonemountaincenter.com

 

EFT:

http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse.htm

 

Transdermal Scanner :

http://www.dririna.info/

 

BIOFEEDBACK:

http://www.austin-biofeedback.com/

 

BIOFILMS:

http://www.erc.montana.edu/default.htm

  NeuroPaths

Phone 512-377-1341

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