Fecal indicator

Faecal indicators are bacteria that can be detected, for example, in food and drinking water . Detection of these bacteria ( indicators ) shows that the food, bathing water or drinking water in question is contaminated with faeces from animals or humans. In terms of consumer protection , limit values or guide values are set for them in ordinances . For example, the German Drinking Water Ordinance contains limit values ​​for Escherichia coli and Enterococci (see Appendix 1 to the Drinking Water Ordinance (microbiological parameters) ).

Classic fecal indicators are:

• Enterobacteria , especially Escherichia coli and possibly other coliform bacteria .
• "Faecal streptococci" (fecal streptococci ). These are enterococci , which were originally referred to as Lancefield group D streptococci or D-streptococci for short. These include, for example, Enterococcus faecalis , Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus durans . Enterococci are more likely to occur in water in lower numbers than E. coli , they have a longer survival time in the environment and are more resistant to disinfectants than coliform bacteria.

See also

• hygiene

swell

• Dictionary editing of the publisher (Ed.): Pschyrembel Clinical Dictionary . 259th edition. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin 2002, ISBN 3-11-016522-8 , p. 501-502, 878-879 .
• Escherichia coli / fecal indicators. In: Website IDUS Biologische Analytisches Umweltlabor GmbH. Retrieved February 22, 2020 .