Temperature range for growth of Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 and selected coliforms in E. coli medium

Escherichia coli serotype O157H:7 and five other fecal and nonfecal coliforms were tested for minimum and maximum temperatures for growth in E. coli medium by using a temperature gradient incubator with a mean temperature increment of 1.67 degrees C (+/- 0.392). The temperature range for growth of E. coli O157:H7 is inconsistent with that of other fecal coliforms, suggesting that this pathogen is excluded with standard enumeration procedures used for foods and water.