In some cases, the biofilm allows bacteria to become quiescent and thus become less sensitive to antimicrobials that typically affect dividing bacterial cells.

Bacteria will then begin to exhibit phenotypic and genotypic plurality: the former allows bacteria to adapt to different growth conditions such as nutrient availability, pH, and oxidizing potential within the biofilm, while the latter allows for virulence and bacterial resistance to drugs.

The presence of biofilms protects bacteria from the host defenses.