ISOLATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI TO DETECT FECAL CONTAMINATION OF INFANTS AND THEIR MOTHERS IN WEST-BENGAL

The present study was undertaken to gain insight into the sources of f aecal contamination of infants in rural Bengal, It was carried out in three villages near Calcutta, India, from June 1993 to August 1995 amo ng 148 infants and their mothers, Escherichia coli was used as an indi cator of faecal pollution. A total of 725 samples, including hand rins ings of children and mothers, feeding utensils and leftover food were examined. The total isolation rate of faecal E. coil was 30%. The isol ation rates from hands of children and mothers were 17% and 40% respec tively. The germs from 30% of utensils and 59% of leftover food and dr inks were recovered further, The study highlights the precarious hygie ne in rural Bengal.