Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Fecal coliform bacteria are the naturally occurring bacteria found in the digestive tracts of most animals. These beneficial organisms aid in digestion, converting certain indigestible fibers and compounds into nutritious compounds. So long as they remain within the alimentary canal, these bacteria are harmless to their host. Fecal coliform bacteria are shed along with excrement, and can colonize other individuals or even species different than their original host. Infections from a foreign body's fecal coliform bacteria are typically nonfatal, although severe symptoms can lead to death. Two to four days following infection from fecal coliform bacteria, symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, headaches, and fever arise. Antibiotics can successfully treat fecal coliform infections, although there is some concern that antibiotic-resistant strains of fecal coliform bacteria ...