[Sanitary-index significance of enterococci in the study of household articles]

A total of 670 washings from various household articles were studied in creches and kindergartens for fecal contamination with the aid of two bacteriological tests (coli and enterococal titres); the degree of their contamination with enterococci and E. coli differed. Strongly contaminated objects (diapers, swaddling tables) were revealed with equal frequency by both tests, but objects assessed as moderately contaminated were more frequently revealed by the enterococcus test (P less than 0.05) than by colimetry. Criteria of evaluation of the quality of washings by the data of enterococcometry are suggested.