Be On The Look Out For The Coliform Bacteria To Save Lives

                                                                                         

One group of bacteria that is usually mentioned whenever people discuss about bacteria is the Coliform bacteria. These microorganisms are mostly found in the intestines and feces of warm-blooded organisms and are also found throughout the environment as a whole. The bacteria just like other living organisms, survive by feeding while at the same time needing warm and moist conditions to coexist optimally. Research has it that the coliform bacteria do well in deep slow moving water but they get to die once they are exposed to the top surface.

The coliform bacteria are believed to be the oldest and most threatening organisms to ever exist in drinking water. They are said to be agents of almost all waterborne diseases ever to occur and are said to be the main contamination incidents that water operators could ever come across. These bacteria are easily transmitted to water bodies whenever human or animal waste is exposed to these areas. This could be possible through open sewers, human beings lacking proper toilets therefore using these water bodies as their best alternative and so on. Unfortunately, the same water bodies could be used as sources of drinking water and this is where the coliform bacteria pose a threat to people.

The coliform bacteria comprise of other types of bacteria and it is not a type of bacteria on its own. These types include the E. coli, Total coliform and finally the fecal coliform bacteria.

The E. coli colifom just like many other bacteria is believed to be generally harmless to people. They are likely to be found inside human and animal intestines. However, research has it that these types of coliform bacteria may contain some dangerous strains that may in the long run cause a lot of problems to the host organism. The E. coli bacteria are said to be the main causes of cholera outbreaks and many other cases of diarrhea conditions in human beings. They enter the body together with the contaminated water or unclean food and once they settle inside the intestines, the harmful strains that they have carried start causing problems. The bacteria are however also used to indicate the presence of other microbial functions in the water including a resent fecal contamination to the drinking water. It is believed that whenever the E. coli bacteria are spotted in water, that serves as a clear indication that the water was recently contaminated with feces and pathogenic bacteria are likely to be found floating in that water too. This way we get to be warned in advance not to consume the water before treating it first.

For you who do not test water before consumption, it is better that you thoroughly boil or disinfect that water before taking it so as to avoid getting any bacterial attacks.

As mentioned above, we also have the Total coliform bacteria as one of the types of the coliform bacteria. These types of microorganisms like to reside on natural vegetation and inside the soil. Just like the E. coli, the Total bacteria are also used to check whether there is any type of contamination inside the water that we are about to use. It is believed that if there is going to be any kind of contamination in the water, then the Total bacteria would be the first type of bacteria that would be found in it. It is however said that these bacteria are not distinctive indicators of the actual presence of other harmful organisms especially the Giardia and the cryptosporidium protozoa which are able to sustain treatment that destroys the Total coliform bacteria.

The final type of the Coliform bacteria are the Fecal bacteria. They are found inside the intestines of humans and also inside the feces hence the name fecal bacteria. They operate exactly as the E. coli bacteria in terms of contamination and are also used to test whether water has been contaminated or not. They are generally harmless to humans but a presence of the fecal bacteria in water could mean that there are other harmful bacteria in the same water such as pathogens that could harm man since the presence of fecal bacteria in water suggests that, that water must have recently been exposed to feces.

For many years now, scientists have been checking out for the presence coliform bacteria inside water from streams and lakes before educating people on how best to prepare the water for consumption or using it for other household tasks. This way a lot of people have avoided infections like cholera which, have proven to be fatal in most cases.

Prevention is better than cure.Be on the look out for Coliform bacteria to prevent being infected.

Wangeci Kinyanjui is an expert on research and reporting on Health Matters for years.To get more information on coliform bacteria visit her site at COLIFORM BACTERIA

About the author:
Wangeci Kinyanjui is an expert writer on matters relating to Health.You can visit her site at www.goshriek.com

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