Coliform Bacteria News and Research

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Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans. Coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness. However, 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 drinking water for all possible pathogens is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. It is relatively easy and inexpensive to test for coliform bacteria. If coliform bacteria are found in a water sample, water system operators work to find the source of contamination and restore safe drinking water. There are three different groups of coliform bacteria; each has a different level of risk.

Novel assay based on hybrid DNA-RNA probe for detecting food contaminated with salmonella

A team of researchers have developed an easy-to-use colorimetric assay for the detection of food contaminated with salmonella.

18 Apr 2023

Wild animals could contribute to fecal contamination in Montana backcountry lake area, study finds

Is increased human visitation to backcountry areas impacting water quality? Investigators analyzed water samples from a suite of backcountry lake outlets in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area of Montana for fecal contamination.

23 Sep 2021

Tea towels in the kitchen could be responsible for food poisonings finds study

Repeated use of the tea towels in the kitchen may be putting the families at risk of food poisonings finds study.

12 Jun 2018

Waterborne disease outbreaks can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings

Traditional water treatment efforts have focused on water leaving the treatment plant, but a large number of recent waterborne disease outbreaks in the U.S. can be traced to plumbing systems in buildings.

9 Nov 2017

Scientists develop safe, highly efficient method to improve searching of new germicides

Scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University in cooperation with colleagues have worked out a safe, not that expensive and highly efficient method, which allows to speed up and improve searching of new germicides.

29 Nov 2016

Patients with COPD more likely to develop serious bacterial infections

It is well known that COPD patients run a higher risk of contracting respiratory infections. However, a new thesis from Lund University in Sweden shows that they are also at higher risk of other bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis (TB) and pneumococcal and staphylococcal infections that can cause serious illness.

16 Jan 2013

Drinking water fails to meet state quality standards at North Carolina migrant farmworker camps

The drinking water at one-third of migrant farmworker camps in eastern North Carolina failed to meet state quality standards, according to a new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

15 Sep 2012

Unwelcome hotel ‘guests’ uncovered

An investigation into the cleanliness of various surfaces and objects in hotel rooms in three US states has revealed that 81% of surfaces are contaminated with coliform bacteria.

20 Jun 2012

Study confirms LcS-fermented milk reduces fever linked with acute norovirus gastroenteritis

The Laboratory Department for Probiotics Research at the Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine studied supplementation of probiotic fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota in elderly individuals living at a nursing home and confirmed reduced fever associated with acute norovirus gastroenteritis.

10 May 2011

SmarterTravel offers tips for staying healthy while traveling

SmarterTravel®, a comprehensive travel advice resource for the budget-conscious consumer, today offered tips for staying healthy while traveling, including some of the dirtiest parts of the plane you should avoid, especially during a highly contagious cold and flu season.

6 Nov 2009

E. coli pervasive in stream-water with fecal indicator bacteria

Bacteria commonly used to indicate health risks in recreational waters might not be so reliable after all. Pathogenic E. coli were pervasive in stream-water samples with low concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria.

23 Sep 2009

Private well water should be tested yearly to reduce health risks to children

Private well water should be tested yearly, and in some cases more often, according to new guidance offered by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

26 May 2009

Staph infection a possible suspect in some SIDS cases

Australian researchers believe that some cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may be caused by the bacterial infection Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).

15 Sep 2008

Warning on fecal coliform in flooded areas of Iowa

Flood water samples taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within the city limits of Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Hamburg, and Burlington, Iowa, showed numbers of fecal coliform bacteria exceeding the health-based level of concern. The level of concern is 200 colony forming units (cfu) per 100 milliliters (ml).

23 Jun 2008

EPA warns about fecal coliform in flooded areas of Coffeyville

Two flood water samples taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within the city limits of Coffeyville, Kan., showed numbers of fecal coliform (bacteria) more than 130 times the standard.

9 Jul 2007

Transgenic goat's milk could help tackle children's intestinal disease

Milk produced by transgenic goats, which carry the gene for an antibacterial enzyme found in human breast milk, altered the intestinal bacteria in young goats and pigs that were fed the milk.

4 Aug 2006

Common anthrax sampling methods need improvement

A research team from the National Nuclear Security Administration's Sandia National Laboratories has discovered that common anthrax sampling methods need improvement. The research shows that more deadly spores remain after decontamination than previously believed.

25 Oct 2005

Aircraft drinking water contaminated with bacteria

A second round of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing shows that 17.2 percent of 169 randomly selected passenger aircraft carried water contaminated with total coliform bacteria.

19 Jan 2005

Aircraft drinking water tests positive for E.coli

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is informing the American public of results from initial testing of drinking water onboard 158 randomly selected passenger airplanes.

22 Sep 2004