A hospital nurse notices a slick spot on an IV needle and suspects bacterial contamination.Which structure might have helped these bacterial cells attach to one another and stick to the needle?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The capsule is a structure found on some bacterial cells that helps them attach to surfaces and to other bacterial cells. It also helps protect them from the immune system and antibiotics. In this case, the bacteria may have used their capsules to attach to each other and to the needle in order to form a biofilm.

A Hospital Nurse Notices a Slick Spot on an IV