ENTEROCOCCI AS AN INDEX OF FECAL CONTAMINATION IN EGG PRODUCTS

Abstract

Enterococci were present in all samples of liquid and frozen egg products examined. They survived spray drying and storage in egg powder better than the coliforms and Escherichia coli and are therefore considered a better index of fecal contamination. There was no relation between the occurrence of Salmonella organisms and the number of enterococci present. Streptococcus faecalis was the species most commonly found. The addition of 0.5% yeast extract to SF medium reduced the number of false negatives and improved the sensitivity, although confirmation on agar was still necessary. Winter and Sandholzer's medium, with bromocresol purple as indicator, could be used without confirmation but was not as sensitive for products containing small numbers of enterococci.