E. coli from dishcloths as an indicator of hygienic status in households

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Keshav ◽  
C. A. Kruger ◽  
A. Mathee ◽  
N. Naicker ◽  
A. Swart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Public Education ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Fecal Pollution ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Enrichment Step

E. coli is routinely used as an indicator of fecal pollution, although some strains are capable of causing diarrhea. E. coli was used as a model organism for this study to assess the possibility that dishcloths used in households could contribute to the occurrence of diarrhea. Dishcloths (n = 424) were collected from five suburbs in Johannesburg (South Africa) as part of a larger Health, Environment & Development (HEAD) study. Results for the total coliforms indicated that on average 81% of the samples analyzed had total coliform counts of more than 1,000 cfu/100 ml per 25 cm2 cloth. The E. coli results indicated that 40% of the samples had culturable E. coli present with 17% of the samples showing the presence of >1,000 cfu/100 ml per 25 cm2 cloth. Except for the samples from Bertrams, all the pathogenic E. coli genes could be detected in various combinations in the different samples. Since all the diarrheagenic E. coli strains detected can be accepted as culturable due to the enrichment step, there is a clear danger of contamination of food and surfaces exposed to the contaminated dishcloths. The results indicated that there is a need for public education regarding hygiene in the households, especially if the same dishcloth is used for various tasks.

ColiComplete® Substrate-Supporting Disc Method for Confirmed Detection of Total Coliforms and Escherichia coli in All Foods: Comparative Study

1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T Feldsine ◽  
Maria T Falbo-Nelson ◽  
David L Hustead
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Most Probable Number ◽  
Probable Number ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Total Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Better Than

Abstract The ColiComplete® substrate-supporting disc (SSD) method for simultaneous confirmed total coliform count and Escherichia coli determination in all foods was compared with the AOAC most probable number (MPN) methods 966.23 and 966.24. In this comparative study, 20 water and food types were analyzed; 7 of these foods were naturally contaminated with coliform bacteria, 6 food types were naturally contaminated with E. coli, and the remaining foods were inoculated with coliform bacteria and/or E. coli. Data were analyzed separately for total coliform bacteria and for E. coli. Mean log MPN counts were determined by the SSD method and the appropriate AOAC MPN procedure. Results were then analyzed for mean log MPN differences and variance, according to methods described by AOAC INTERNATIONAL Results for both total conforms and E. coli indicate that the SSD method is equivalent to or better than AOAC MPN methods 966.23 and 966.24.

Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Indicator Organisms on the Surface of Intact Subprimal Beef Cuts Prior to Further Processing

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1514-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES E. KENNEDY ◽  
SALLY K. WILLIAMS ◽  
TED BROWN ◽  
PHIL MINERICH
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Escherichia Coli O157 ◽  
Indicator Organisms ◽  
Seasonal Differences ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Plate Counts ◽  
Collection Period

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, other E. coli strains, total coliforms, and aerobic organisms on the surface of subprimal beef cuts prior to enhancement. Subprimal cuts were sampled during winter (January and February 2004) and summer (August through October 2004). During each collection period, six representative subprimal cuts (chuck tenders, 0.64-cm trimmed strips, bottom round flat, rough-trimmed brisket, cap-on top rounds, and cap-off insides) were sampled. A total of 600 samples in winter (100 samples per cut) and 599 samples in summer (100 chuck tenders, 100 0.64-cm trimmed strips, 100 bottom round flats, 100 cap-off insides, 97 rough-trimmed briskets, and 102 cap-on top rounds) were collected from five plants in the Midwest, southern Midwest, northern Midwest, and Southeast and swabbed using the sponge swab method. All sponges were analyzed for E. coli O157:H7. In addition, 400 subprimal cuts from four plants were analyzed for aerobic plate counts, total coliforms, and other E. coli strains during each collection period. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected on any of the 1,199 subprimal samples; thus, incidence of E. coli O157:H7 was <0.083%. Seasonal differences between aerobic plate counts and total coliform counts for each of the same cuts were 1.0 log CFU per cut or less. E. coli strains were not detected in 82, 52, 69, and 82% of the chuck tenders, 0.64-cm trimmed strips, bottom round flats, and cap-off insides, respectively.

scholarly journals Geographical Variation in Ribotype Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolates from Humans, Swine, Poultry, Beef, and Dairy Cattle in Florida

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 1089-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Troy M. Scott ◽  
Salina Parveen ◽  
Kenneth M. Portier ◽  
Joan B. Rose ◽  
Mark L. Tamplin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Geographic Region ◽  
Fecal Pollution ◽  
Genotypic Differences ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Southern Florida

ABSTRACT Waters impacted by fecal pollution can exact high risks to human health and can result in financial losses due to closures of water systems used for recreation and for harvesting seafood. Identifying the sources of fecal pollution in water is paramount in assessing the potential human health risks involved as well as in assessing necessary remedial action. Recently, various researchers have used the ribotyping method to identify sources of bacterial indicators (Escherichia coli and enterococci) in environmental waters. While these studies have identified genotypic differences between human- and animal-derived indicators that are capable of differentiating organisms isolated from humans and various animal hosts, most have focused on organisms collected from a confined geographic area and have not addressed the question of whether these ribotype profiles are watershed specific or if they can be applied universally to organisms from other geographic locations. In this study, E. coli isolates were obtained from humans, beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, and poultry from locations in northern, central, and southern Florida and were subjected to ribotyping analysis. The intent was to determine (i) if ribotype profiles are capable of discriminating the source of E. coli at the host species level and (ii) if the resulting fingerprints are uniform over an extended geographic area or if they can be applied only to a specific watershed. Our research indicated that, using a single restriction enzyme (HindIII), the ribotyping procedure is not capable of differentiating E. coli isolates from the different animal species sampled in this study. Results indicate, however, that this procedure can still be used effectively to differentiate E. coli as being either human or animal derived when applied to organisms isolated from a large geographic region.

scholarly journals Effect of Environmental Factors on the Relationship between Concentrations of Coprostanol and Fecal Indicator Bacteria in Tropical (Mekong Delta) and Temperate (Tokyo) Freshwaters

2004 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 814-821 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei O. Isobe ◽  
Mitsunori Tarao ◽  
Nguyen H. Chiem ◽  
Le Y. Minh ◽  
Hideshige Takada
Keyword(s):  
Mekong Delta ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Fecal Pollution ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Fecal Indicator ◽  
Soil Particles ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACT A reliable assessment of microbial indicators of fecal pollution (total coliform, Escherichia coli, and fecal streptococcus) is critical in tropical environments. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between concentrations of indicator bacteria and a chemical indicator, coprostanol (5β-cholestan-3β-ol), in tropical and temperate regions. Water samples were collected from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam, during wet and dry seasons, and from Tokyo, Japan, during summer, the aftermath of a typhoon, and winter. During the wet season in the Mekong Delta, higher bacterial densities were observed in rivers, probably due to the higher bacterial inputs from soil particles with runoff. In Tokyo, higher bacterial densities were usually observed during summer, followed by those in the typhoon aftermath and winter. A strong logarithmic correlation between the concentrations of E. coli and coprostanol was demonstrated in all surveys. Distinctive seasonal fluctuations were observed, as concentrations of coprostanol corresponding to 1,000 CFU of E. coli/100 ml were at their lowest during the wet season in the Mekong Delta and the typhoon aftermath in Tokyo (30 ng/liter), followed by the dry season in the Mekong Delta and the summer in Tokyo (100 ng/liter), and they were much higher during the winter in Tokyo (400 ng/liter). These results suggested that E. coli is a specific indicator of fecal contamination in both tropical and temperate regions but that the densities are affected by elevated water temperature and input from runoff of soil particles. The concurrent determination of E. coli and coprostanol concentrations could provide a possible approach to assessing the reliability of fecal pollution monitoring data.

Comparative performance of colisureTM and accepted methods in the detection of chlorine-injured total coliforms and E. coli

1995 ◽  
Vol 31 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 259-261
Author(s):  
G. A. McFeters ◽  
S. C. Broadaway ◽  
B. H. Pyle ◽  
M. Pickett ◽  
Y. Egozy
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Comparative Performance ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Reference Methods ◽  
The Us ◽  
Viable Bacteria ◽  
Contaminated Drinking Water

Studies were done to examine the comparability of ColisureTM and accepted reference methods to detect low numbers of total coliform bacteria and E. coli subjected to chlorine stress. ColisureTM is a medium designed to concurrently detect coliform bacteria and E. coli in drinking water by the specific action of β-galactosidase (total coliforms) and β-glucuronidase (E. coli). The methods used to compare the performance of various media followed a protocol established by the USEPA. Samples (31) of sewage from six different regions of the US were treated with sufficient concentrations of chlorine (1.2-2.5mg/l) to reduce viability 1-3 logs (39% average injury) and diluted with drinking water to achieve ca. 3 viable coliforms/100ml. The mean log reductions in viable bacteria, determined with various media following disinfection of the 31 samples were: mEndo = 1.87 (TC), ColisureTM = 1.55 (TC), mTec = 3.63 (E. coli) and ColisureTM = 2.01 (E. coli). When ColisureTM was compared with accepted methods to detect total coliforms in the dilute, disinfected samples, ColisureTM yielded results that were 1.6 times greater than LTB confirmed in BGLB at 28h. ColisureTM also detected 1.7 times greater levels of E. coli than LTB confirmed in EC/MUG at 28h. Sensitivity and specificity of ColisureTM were between 96 and 100% when positive and negative tests were verified. These findings indicate that ColisureTM is superior to certain accepted reference methods in the detection of chlorine-injured coliforms and E. coli under conditions that resemble contaminated drinking water.

scholarly journals Bacterial Contamination of Children’s Toys in Rural Day Care Centres and Households in South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (16) ◽  
pp. 2900
Author(s):  
Solanka Ellen Ledwaba ◽  
Piet Becker ◽  
Afsatou Traore-Hoffman ◽  
Natasha Potgieter
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Day Care ◽  
Fecal Contamination ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Sanitation And Hygiene ◽  
Day Care Centres

Background: Young children exhibit a high susceptibility to several diarrhoea-causing bacterial microorganisms. In this study, the prevalence of fecal contamination on children’s toys was determined using total coliform and E. coli as bacterial fecal indicators. The prevalence of diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains were used as an indication of the potential health risks. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out for 3 months in rural communities in the Vhembe district, Limpopo province of South Africa. Nonporous plastic toys (n = 137) used by children under 5 years of age in households and day care centres (DCCs) from rural villages were collected for assessment. New toys (n = 109) were provided to the households and DCCs and collected again after 4 weeks. Microbiological assessment was carried out using the Colilert® Quanti-Tray/2000 system. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains were identified using a published multiplex PCR protocol. Results: Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions of the children in the households and DCCs were assessed. Statistical analysis was used to identify the relationship between fecal contamination of the existing and introduced toys. All the existing and introduced toy samples, both from DCCs and households, tested positive for total coliform counts and 61 existing and introduced toy samples tested positive for E. coli counts. Diarrhoeagenic E. coli strains identified included EHEC, ETEC, EPEC, EIEC and EAEC. Conclusions: The results indicated that water, sanitation and hygiene conditions could be responsible in the contamination of children’s toys and the transmission of diarrhoea to young children.

scholarly journals Sampling of elementary school playground equipment for total coliforms and E. coli

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Fowler ◽  
BCIT School of Health Sciences, Environmental Health ◽  
Vanessa Karakilic
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
P Value ◽  
Test Analysis ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Contact Surfaces ◽  
Hand Contact

  Background and Purpose: Outbreaks of enteric diseases in schools and daycares are common. It is possible that these outbreaks could be propagated via fomites in school settings, such as playground equipment that is not regularly cleaned. Studies thus far have provided conflicting results on the level of contamination present on fomites in the school setting. This project is intended to assess the level of microbial contamination present on elementary school playground surfaces as a result of hand contact from school children. Methods: Two categories of elementary school playground equipment were sampled in this study; those that are likely to see regular hand contact from children and those that were not likely see hand regular hand contact from children. 30 surfaces of each category were swabbed and the media will be plated and incubated to enumerate total coliforms and E. coli. Results: The mean number of total coliforms on high hand contact surfaces was 0.2333 cfu/100cm2, while the mean number of total coliforms on low hand contact surfaces was 0.2667 cfu/100cm2. The t-test analysis of total coliform results produced a p-value of 0.5566. The mean number of E. coli on high hand contact surfaces was 1.1333 cfu/100cm2, while the mean number of E. coli on low hand contact surfaces was 4.9000 cfu/100cm2. The t-test analysis of E. coli results produced a p-value of 0.8019. Discussion: Neither results for total coliforms or E. coli indicated significantly different numbers on high or low hand contact surfaces. This indicates that these total coliform and E. coli may not be present as a result of hand contact. Conclusion: These results do not support the deposition of coliforms or E. coli on playground equipment as a result of hand contact. However, there is still concern due to the number of samples positive for E. coli. These results suggest the need for practices such as regular hand washing in the school setting after using the playground, regular cleaning of playground materials and EHO inspections of school grounds.  

Impact of chlorine injury on reaction kinetics of coliforms and E. coli in colisureTM and LTB

1997 ◽  
Vol 35 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 419-422
Author(s):  
G. McFeters ◽  
M. Pickett ◽  
S. Broadaway ◽  
B. Pyle
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Coliform Bacteria ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Lag Period ◽  
Surface Water Samples ◽  
Over Time

This study compared a chromogenic and fluorogenic substrate based medium, Colisure, with the conventional fermentation based medium, lauryl tryptose broth (LTB), for the recovery of chlorine-injured and non-injured coliforms and E. coli. Mixed natural populations of coliforms from sewage, with and without chlorine exposure, and untreated surface water samples were examined following a USEPA established procedure. Colisure and LTB were examined after 20, 24, 28 and 48h incubation and reactions verified. There were slight increases in positive reactions over time with unchlorinated samples, for which the two media gave similar kinetic patterns. The increases over time with chlorinated samples were much greater than with unchlorinated samples. LTB gave significantly lower total positive responses and had a more pronounced lag period than did Colisure. Total coliform bacteria from surface water samples gave somewhat different reactions with more of an increase with time. Colisure recovered comparable or higher numbers of total coliforms and E. coli in 20–28h than LTB after 48h. These results confirm that Colisure gives improved recovery of chlorine-injured total coliforms and E. coli under conditions simulating treated drinking and source water, resulting in a more realistic estimate of the actual population of indicator bacteria in public water supplies.

Effects of Different Disinfection Treatments on the Natural Microbiota of Lettuce

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 1697-1700 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. NASCIMENTO ◽  
N. SILVA ◽  
M. P. L. M. CATANOZI ◽  
K. C. SILVA
Keyword(s):  
Acetic Acid ◽  
Sodium Hypochlorite ◽  
Peracetic Acid ◽  
Initial Level ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate ◽  
Mold And Yeast ◽  
Natural Microbiota

In this study, water and eight sanitizing solutions (vinegar at 6, 25, and 50%; acetic acid at 2 and 4%; peracetic acid at 80 ppm, sodium hypochlorite at 200 ppm, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate at 200 ppm) were compared in terms of their effectiveness against the natural microbiota of lettuce. All of the samples were kept in contact with the sanitizing solutions for 15 min, and the effectiveness of a sanitizing agent was evaluated on the basis of the number of decimal reductions of the total aerobic mesophilic count, the mold and yeast count, the total coliform count, and the Escherichia coli count. The average initial levels of these organisms in the samples were 6.94 log10 CFU/g for aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, 5.62 log10 CFU/g for molds and yeasts, and 3.25 log10 CFU/g for total coliforms. Of 10 samples analyzed, only 4 contained E. coli, and the average initial level of this microorganism in these 4 samples was 1.64 log10 CFU/g. Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples tested. The decimal reductions of the populations of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, molds and yeasts, total coliforms, and E. coli were 0.78, 0.87, 0.82, and >0.14 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in water; 2.89, >3.41, >2.21, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 50% vinegar; 2.42, >3.20, >1.99, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 25% vinegar; 1.83, 2.57, 1.58, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 6% vinegar; 3.91, >3.58, >2.25, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 4% acetic acid; 3.37, >3.53, >2.25, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 2% acetic acid; 1.85, 2.32, 1.44, and >0.20 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 80 ppm of peracetic acid; 2.63, 2.75, 1.91, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 200 ppm of sodium hypochlorite; and 3.23, >3.08, >1.95, and >0.26 log10 CFU/g, respectively, in 200 ppm of sodium dichloroisocyanurate. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the effectiveness levels for all of the sanitizing agents tested were equivalent to or higher than that for sodium hypochlorite at 200 ppm.

scholarly journals Microbial Transport as Affected by Residue Cover and Manure Application Rate

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-694
Author(s):  
Lisa A. Durso ◽  
John E. Gilley ◽  
David B. Marx ◽  
Chance A. Thayer ◽  
Bryan L. Woodbury
Keyword(s):  
Total Coliform ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Land Application ◽  
Rainfall Simulation ◽  
Nutrient Requirements ◽  
Microbial Transport ◽  
Manure Application ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli

Abstract. Manure is applied to cropland areas with varying surface cover to meet single- or multiple-year crop nutrient requirements. The objectives of this field study were to (1) examine microbial transport following land application of manure to sites with and without wheat residue, (2) compare microbial loads following land application to meet the 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8-year P-based requirements for corn, and (3) evaluate the effects of rainfall simulation run on microbial transport. Manure was added and incorporated by disking plots that were 0.75 m wide by 2.0 m long. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were then applied at an intensity of 70 mm h-1. Plots containing wheat residue had a total coliform load of 12.6 log CFU ha-1, which was significantly greater than the 12.4 log CFU ha-1 measured on the plots without wheat residue. The plots with and without wheat residue had transport rates of and enterococci that were not significantly different. The plots on which manure was added at rates varying from 5.4 to 42.8 Mg ha-1 had counts of total coliforms and enterococci that were not significantly different. Rainfall simulation run did not significantly affect measurements of phages, total coliforms, or enterococci. Transport of selected microbes was found to be significantly affected by residue cover, manure application rate, and rainfall simulation run. Keywords: Bacteria, Cattle manure, E. coli, Feedlots, Land application, Manure management, Manure runoff, Microbial, Microorganisms, Runoff.

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