Coliform
Coliform
Coliform (/koʊˈlɪfɔːrm/), from the Latin coli meaning "of the colon" and the Greek -form meaning "shape or resemblance", is a type of bacteria that is commonly used as an indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water.
Etymology
The term "coliform" is derived from the genus name Escherichia, after Theodor Escherich, a German-Austrian pediatrician and bacteriologist, and the Latin suffix -form, meaning "shape or resemblance". The term is used to describe rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore forming bacteria.
Types of Coliform
There are three groups of coliform bacteria. Each has a different level of risk and is tested in different ways:
- Total Coliform - This group of bacteria is largely harmless. They are found in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans.
- Fecal Coliform - This group of bacteria is a sub-group of total coliform and is found in the feces of warm-blooded animals and humans.
- Escherichia Coli (E. Coli) - This is a sub-group of fecal coliform. While most strains are harmless, some can cause serious illness.
Health Risks
Coliform bacteria themselves do not cause serious illness, but their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system. Most pathogens that can contaminate water supplies come from the feces of humans or animals.
Testing for Coliform
Testing for coliform bacteria is a common way to determine if water is safe to drink. If a water sample tests positive for coliform bacteria, additional tests are usually done to see if fecal coliform bacteria are present.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Coliform
- Wikipedia's article - Coliform
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