The Danger of Pink Bacteria

Pink bacteria are actually scarier than purple ones. In the lab, scientists use a

test called a Gram stain to identify bacteria, dyeing them based on their cell walls.

If they turn purple, they're Gram-positive. But if they turn pink, they're Gram-negative,

and that's often bad news. These pink, Gram-negative bacteria have an extra outer

layer that can be toxic. This layer can trigger a massive, dangerous immune

response in your body called septic shock. It's a life-threatening condition where

your blood pressure plummets. So in the world of microbes, pink is the real

danger color.