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Bacteria have a bad reputation. They are associated with death and disease and are considered by many to be an invisible evil. How is it then, that humans carry as many bacteria and other microorganisms, both outside and inside, as the body's own cells? The answer is simple: because bacteria are vital for human health. Different areas of the body, such as the nose, mouth or intestines, form their own ecosystems, where different types of bacteria contribute. Researchers are now looking into which bacteria in each space are important and which are harmful. Both medical science and the industry are using this knowledge to develop new drugs and cleaning agents. These are no longer intended to kill all bacteria, as antibiotics or aggressive chemical cleaning agents do, but intervene in a regulating way, by creating a healthy balance that promotes the bacteria that are useful and beneficial to us humans. In this way, not only can diseases be treated individually, but the danger of multi-resistant superbugs is lessened as well.
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