SEDL / STP / STP635-EB / STP34822S

Coagulase Positive Staphylococci as Indicators of Potential Health Hazards From Water

Evans, JB
Head, Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N. C.

Pages: 5    Published: Jan 1977

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Abstract

Coagulase-positive staphylococci are synonymous with the species Staphylococcus aureus. They are normal inhabitants of the nose, skin, and intestinal tract of healthy individuals as well as a cause of purulent infections of the skin, eyes, and ears. They are a major component of the bacterial flora of swimming pools and recreational waters that have a high density of swimmers and are potentially a good index of the health hazard associated with bathing in such waters. The major obstacle to their use as an indicator organism is the lack of a medium and method that is sufficiently selective and reliable for the quantitative recovery of these bacteria from aquatic habitats.