title: Coliform bacteria, fabrics, and the environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People come into contact with coliform bacteria at recreational sites. Previous research on bacteria adhering to fabrics and surfaces focused on the viability of clinically significant microbes, but did not examine the quantity of bacteria. This study examined the viability and quantity of coliform bacteria adhered to common fabrics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fabrics of 100% cotton, blended cotton, and silk were exposed to a mixture of environmental coliform isolates. Fabrics were incubated in the dark at 25°C or 37°C or in direct sunlight at room temperature for 30, 60, 90, and 120 days. The quantity and viability of the bacteria were determined by the Most Probable Number technique using Colilert reagent (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME) and eosin methylene blue agar, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The highest numbers of bacteria were detected for each type of fabric when stored in the dark at 25°C, whereas the lowest numbers of bacteria were detected when fabrics were stored in the dark at 37°C. Low numbers of bacteria were detected on silk and blended cotton exposed to sunlight at room temperature, but not 100% cotton.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that coliform bacteria can survive on fabrics longer than previous studies have reported. Coliform bacteria survive better in the dark, at lower temperatures, and on fabrics that can retain moisture. These findings can be applied directly to the viability of bacteria on clothing and potential human exposure to fecal pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Colclasure
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Soderquist
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Deirdre S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Urrutia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Corey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knickerbocker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL.
authors.forename: Devon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCord
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL. Electronic address: kavourje@lewisu.edu.
authors.forename: Jerry H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kavouras
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D047011:Silk; D013784:Textiles / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D047011:Silk
keywords: Adhesion; Coliform bacteria; Fabrics; Viability