What Does Coliform Bacteria Mean?
Coliform bacteria are bacteria that are rod shaped and lactose fermenting. Coliform bacteria are not normally responsible for many serious diseases, although there are some strains which are pathogenic. They are easily cultured and commonly used as fecal indicators as their presence indicates that there are other pathogenic organisms originating from feces present as well. The most commonly used fecal indicator is the E-Coli family of bacteria, of which most strains are harmless.