Coliform-Group Bacteria

A group of bacteria predominantly inhabiting the intestines of man or animal, but also occasionally found elsewhere are known as coliform-group bacteria. These include all aerobic and facultative anaerobic Gram-negative, nonspore-creating bacilli which ferment lactose along with production of gas. Also involved are all bacteria that generate a dark, purplish-green colony along with a metallic sheen by the membrane-filter technique used for coliform identification. There are the two groups that are not always identical, but they are commonly of equal sanitary significance.