Chapter 27, Problem 5MCQ

The water used to prepare intravenous solutions in a hospital contained endotoxins. Infection control personnel performed plate counts to find the source of the bacteria. Their results:

	Bacteria/100 ml
Municipal water pipes	0
Boiler	0
Hot water line	300

All of the following conclusions about the bacteria can be drawn except which one?

1. a. They were present as a biofilm in the pipes.
2. b. They are gram-negative.
3. c. They come from fecal contamination.
4. d. They come from the city water supply.
5. e. none of the above