Biofilms have a complex lifecycle from initial formation to maturation. In the first phase of formation, bacteria populate the surface. Bacteria then excrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that bind the colony together. The matrix of EPS protects the cells within it and facilitates communication among the bacteria through diffusible chemical signals, forming a biofilm architecture and mature into a complex three-dimensional structure. In the final dispersion phase, biofilms can propagate through seeding where individual cells are dispersed from the biofilm. These bacteria can attach to other surfaces or go on to cause sepsis.