Coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness, but prevent coliform bacteria is very necesary. However, their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system.

Coliform bacteria are defined as rod-shaped (2 microns long and 0.5 microns wide in diameter) Gram-negative non-spore-forming bacteria. Typically found in various foods, soil, and warm-blooded animal intestines. This bacteria can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35–37°C.

All types of coliforms are not pathogenic. Out of Fecal Coliforms (Subgroup of Total Coliforms), some categories of Escherichia coli are pathogenic.

Escherichia coli contaminated water or food may affect human beings severely. Children are more vulnerable than older and sometimes cause death due to weak immune system against this infection.

Classification of Coliform:

• Fecal Coliform is a subgroup of Total Coliforms.
• Escherichia coli is a subsection of Fecal Coliform
• Some special types of Escherichia coli are pathogenic
• Total Coliform g Fecal Coliform g Escherichia Coli g Pathogenic E. coli

All Pathogenic E. Coli And Diseases Symptoms:

• Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC): Diarrhoea
• Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC): Septic Shock, meningitis
• Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC): Profuse diarrhea, high fever.
• Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC): Gastroenteritis, enterocolitis, bloody diarrhea
• Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC): Diarrhoea with severe dehydration
• Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC): Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Verotoxin-producing E. coli: Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

Note: Among all Pathogenic E. coli most harmful is E. coli (O157:H7) responsible for intestinal hemorrhage

Source of Infection

Contaminated food and drinks

• Raw food: Vegetables, Fruits, Leaf, Root, and stems.
• Cooked food: May contaminated by preservation with contaminated raw food
• Drinks: Water, juice, and milk
• Infected Person (Person to person: Touch of infected)

The Root of Transmission

• Oral (Throat & Digestive System)
• Facial (Eye, Skin, Ear)
• Nasal (Throat & Respiratory System)

Symptoms of Infection

IPD-ICDDRB

• Nausea, Vomiting
• Diarrhoea (Often Bloody or Profuse)
• Fever (100-101°C)
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Abdominal Cramp
• Gastroenteritis, Enterocolitis
• Acute respiratory tract infection (ARI), Pneumonia
• Septic Shock
• Meningitis

Vulnerable Peoples

• Child
• Kitchen worker (Housewife, chef & cook)
• Cleaner
• Swimmer, Fisherman or boatman

Note: Children are especially vulnerable for person to person contamination

Incubation Period

1- 4 Days

Symptoms Exist

Highest 10 Days (Continuous use of polluted water increases possibilities of recurrent contamination; children are a more vulnerable group for such kind of infection)

Patient Management

• Oral Saline for Diarrhoea and Dehydration management
• Paracetamol for Fever
• Consultation with a Medical Doctor as soon as possible
• Proper antibiotic (Directed by the physician) for infection control

Presence Testing

• By Using – Coliform Test Kit
• In Laboratory – Gram Stain

Causes of Coliform Pollution

• Defective sewage system (Housing or farming)
• Defective manure fertilizer application system
• Defective or unclean water supply system
• Heavy (excessive) rainfall against poor drainage system

Disinfection Processes

• Thermal Effect (Boiling or Cooking more than 720 °C or 160 °C)
• Halogenations (Using halogen tablets to kill coliform)
• Ultraviolet Light (UV light units may be recommended for water supplies where total coliform bacteria > 1000 colonies per 100 ml or fecal coliform bacteria > 100 colonies per 100 ml)

Ozonation (This system is an effective disinfection system, but more costly)

Note: Disinfection systems are capable to kill coliform of water but unable to remove cadaver of microorganisms, TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) and insoluble substances. For this reason, in order to purify the water (Remove all unwanted substances), we have to use more effective filtration system (RO Water Purifier)

Prevent coliform bacteria

• Prevention from coliform Pollution
• Preserve separately raw and cooked food
• Drinking safe water and preventing coliform bacteria
• Use pure water for cooking and washing
• Use RO purifier to ensure safety

Purification Systems Of Water

• MICRO Filtration: Pore size: 0.1 micron
• ULTRA Filtration: Pore size: 0.01 micron
• NANO Filtration: Pore size: 0.001 micron
• Reverse Osmosis (RO) Filtration: Pore size: 0.0001 micron

Note: Only RO purifier with accurate size (0.0001 micron) of membrane capable to ensure 100% safe drinking & kitchen water Solution

To ensure pure drinking water and health safety ULTIMA CARE brought RO Purifier for you. Drinking safe water is a key way to prevent coliform bacteria.

Edited By:

Dr. Hefjur Rahman Ojaer

BUMS (DU), MPH (NIPSOM – BSMMU)

Source

https:// https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/e-coli-infection-topic-overview

https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/water/drinking/coliform_bacteria.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathogenic_Escherichia_coli#UPEC