Dw. Warburton et al., SURVIVAL AND RECOVERY OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI O157-H7 IN INOCULATED BOTTLED WATER, Journal of food protection, 61(8), 1998, pp. 948-952
A methodology used to isolate Escherichia coli O157:H7 from water and
survival of this pathogen in inoculated water is described. The method
ology used in the isolation of E. coli O157:H7 included the use of sel
ective plating on Sorbitol MacConkey agar (supplemented with potassium
tellurite [2.5 mg/liter], cefixime [0.05 mg/liter], and cefsulodin [1
0 mg/liter], and modified hemorrhagic colitis agar (also supplemented
with potassium tellurite [2.5 mg/liter] and cefsulodin [10 mg/liter]).
There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the recoveri
es of E. coli O157:H7 on these two selective media. Direct plating on
these selective agars was used to determine the length of time that E.
coli O157:H7 was able to grow, remain viable, and be resistant to the
selective agents. E. coli O157:H7 survived in inoculated water for up
to >300 days, depending on the type of water. Observation by scanning
electron microscopy indicated that E. coli O157:H7 cells attached to,
and multiplied on, the container walls.