[Comparison of the MPN method and direct counting on specific selective media for bacteriological examination of...

A tentative procedure, with solid plated selective-differential media, for enumeration of total and fecal coliforms and enterococci in surface and waste waters is described. Results obtained with such techniques appear to be satisfactory in comparison with the traditional official procedure (MPN) for fecal coliforms (E. coli). The procedure and cultural media proposed is not satisfactory for total coliforms counting and it is only partially satisfactory for enterococci direct enumeration. We then propose the direct enumeration technique on mFC agar for fecal coliforms estimation. Further experiments for improving counting procedures for the other microbiological parameters are in progress.