Hmm. I know viruses definitely can hide in places, specifically muscle tissue but that sort of makes sense, as their reproductive strategy is to actually use cells to reproduce and such.
But I guess there are all sorts of places for bacteria to hide out. One thing I've always wondered, is there were reports around 5+ years ago, of a "new organ" being discovered. This was some sort of layer of liquid below skin layers, which was never apparent after death. And it was only discovered as a result of improving capability to view our body while alive, in this case tech not really possible 30 years ago.
I guess my point here is, if bacteria were in the interstitium they could hide out in this organ, and it's massive if it exists. I've wondered about this, as I suspect some fungal infections actually live in the interstitium for fluid ingestion and to travel to alternate sites, but then actually poke through the skin for air/etc. It could give a better clue as to why some fungal infections are hard to fight.
Adding to this, bacteria can form biofilms that are undetectable with blood tests. This is thought to be one way that streptococcal bacteria such as _S. pyogenes_ can stay around in the body for a long time, perhaps indefinitely [1].
These biofilms become microcolonies of bacteria (in places such as in the tonsils) that can lie dormant and reinfect in cycles. People who experience recurring strep infections (i.e. strep throat or strep tonsillitis) are often advised to get a tonsillectomy.
Additionally, strep is thought to be capable of inducing autoimmunity through a mechanism called molecular mimicry [2], and this mechanism been implicated in several diseases, including rheumatic fever and psoriasis.
But I guess there are all sorts of places for bacteria to hide out. One thing I've always wondered, is there were reports around 5+ years ago, of a "new organ" being discovered. This was some sort of layer of liquid below skin layers, which was never apparent after death. And it was only discovered as a result of improving capability to view our body while alive, in this case tech not really possible 30 years ago.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/meet-your-interst...
I guess my point here is, if bacteria were in the interstitium they could hide out in this organ, and it's massive if it exists. I've wondered about this, as I suspect some fungal infections actually live in the interstitium for fluid ingestion and to travel to alternate sites, but then actually poke through the skin for air/etc. It could give a better clue as to why some fungal infections are hard to fight.