Which organisms are commonly used to indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria?

Which organisms are commonly used to indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria?

• A. Coliform bacteria
• B. Sulfate-reducing bacteria
• C. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria
• D. Aerobic bacteria

Answer: (A)

Coliform bacteria are widely utilized as indicators of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water. They are a group of microorganisms, primarily including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterobacteria, that are generally found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water suggests potential contamination by fecal matter, which may harbor harmful pathogens. The significance of using coliform bacteria lies in their ease of detection and prevalence in environments where pathogens may be present. Since pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa can lead to serious health issues, monitoring for coliforms serves as a useful proxy for assessing the microbiological quality of water. In contrast, sulfate-reducing bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and aerobic bacteria do not serve as reliable indicators of fecal contamination or the presence of pathogens. While they each perform important ecological functions, their relationship to human health and the specific assessment of water quality in terms of pathogenic risk is not the same as that of coliform bacteria. Thus, coliform bacteria remain the standard indicator group for determining water safety regarding microbiological contamination.

Coliform bacteria are widely utilized as indicators of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in water. They are a group of microorganisms, primarily including Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterobacteria, that are generally found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. Their presence in water suggests potential contamination by fecal matter, which may harbor harmful pathogens.

The significance of using coliform bacteria lies in their ease of detection and prevalence in environments where pathogens may be present. Since pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and protozoa can lead to serious health issues, monitoring for coliforms serves as a useful proxy for assessing the microbiological quality of water.

In contrast, sulfate-reducing bacteria, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and aerobic bacteria do not serve as reliable indicators of fecal contamination or the presence of pathogens. While they each perform important ecological functions, their relationship to human health and the specific assessment of water quality in terms of pathogenic risk is not the same as that of coliform bacteria. Thus, coliform bacteria remain the standard indicator group for determining water safety regarding microbiological contamination.