Comparative evaluation of modified m-FC and m-TEC media for membrane filter enumeration of Escherichia coli in water.
Two media used to detect fecal coliforms in water by membrane filtration, m-FC and m-TEC, were modified and supplemented with the chromogenic substrate 5-bromo-6-chloro-3-indoyl-beta-D-glucuronide (BCIG) and were compared for quantitative recovery of Escherichia coli. Student's t test of data from 181 water samples of sewage, rivers, lakes, and wells did not demonstrate any statistically significant differences (P = 0.05) in the enumeration of E. coli with these media. Target colonies were confirmed to be E. coli at rates of 98.6 and 97.3% by using FC-BCIG and TEC-BCIG media, respectively. Glucuronidase-negative isolates of E. coli were encountered at the same frequency (6.0%) on both media. This collaborative study demonstrated that either modified basal medium could be used successfully for detection of E. coli in various nontreated waters within 24 h.
Ciebin
B W
BW
Ontario Ministry of Health, Laboratory Services Branch, Toronto, Canada.
Brodsky
M H
MH
Eddington
R
R
Horsnell
G
G
Choney
A
A
Palmateer
G
G
Ley
A
A
Joshi
R
R
Shears
G
G
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003470:Culture Media; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008851:Micropore Filters; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D003470:Culture Media