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Comparison of fluorogenic and conventional membrane filter media for enumerating coliform bacteria
G Cenci1, A De Bartolomeo, G Caldini
1Department of Hygiene, University of Perugia, Italy.
Microbios
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Fluorogenic media offer rapid and efficient detection of total coliforms and Escherichia coli in water. This method shows high sensitivity, especially in contaminated groundwater, making it ideal for drinking water surveys.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Water Quality Analysis
Background:
- Traditional methods for detecting microbial contamination in water are often time-consuming.
- Accurate and rapid identification of indicator organisms like total coliforms and Escherichia coli is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of fluorogenic substrates (4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactoside and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide) in MacConkey broth for detecting total coliforms and E. coli.
- To compare the performance of fluorogenic media with conventional reference media for water analysis.
Main Methods:
- Membrane filtration technique was employed for primary isolation.
- Water samples from various sources were analyzed using both fluorogenic and conventional media.
- Recovery efficiency and rapidity of analysis were key performance indicators.
Main Results:
- Fluorogenic media demonstrated comparable or superior recovery efficiency compared to reference media.
- Analyses using fluorogenic media were significantly faster, yielding results within 12 hours.
- Higher sensitivity was observed with fluorogenic media in shallow contaminated groundwater samples.
Conclusions:
- Fluorogenic membrane filtration analysis is a useful and rapid method for detecting colimetric indicators in water.
- This approach offers advantages in recovery efficiency and speed, particularly for sanitary surveying of drinking water.