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47
Organisms Isolated from Utensils.
Spoons.—Out of 164 examined. 8 grew a coagulase-positive
Staphylococcus aureus, 2 a Group B haemolytic streptococcus. 1 a Bact.
iysenteriae sonnei, 1 a paracolon bacillus, 2 Bact. faecalis alkaligenes,
and 27 yielded coliform bacilli.
Cups.—Out of 121 examined 9 crew a coagulase-positive Staph, aureus,
four haemolytic streptococci (2 Group C. 1 Group B. and 1 Group G),
2 paracolon bacilli, 2 Bact. faecalis alkaligenes, and 30 yielded coliform
bacilli. :|
Forks.—Out of 219 examined 8 yielded a coagulase-positive Staphaureus.
2 haemolytic streptococci (1 Group A, 1 Group G). 2 paracolon
alkaligenes, 1 Proteus bacilli, 3 Pseudomonas oyocyanea, and 23 yielded
coliform bacilli.
Plates.—Out of 53 examined 6 grew a coagulase-positive Staph-aureus,
2 haemolytic streptococci (1 Group B and 1 Group G), 2 Bact. faecalis
alkaligenes, 1 Proteus bacilli, 3 Pseudomonas oyocyanea, and 23 yielded
coliform bacilli.
Glasses.—Out of 58 examined 3 grew a coagulase-positive Staph,
aureus. 4 haemolvtic streptococci (2 Group B and 2 Group G). 1 Bact.
faecalis alkaligenes, 1 Morgan's bacilli, and 10 yielded coliform bacilli.
All these organisms except the coliform bacilli are possible pathogens
and have been cited as causes of disease. The widespread occurrence
of coliform bacilli would suggest a real possibility of contamination by
intestinal pathogens. No attempt was made to classify these coliform
bacilli, as high counts of the dish-washing waters grown at 37° C. suggested
that the majority we—5 of animal origin. Faecal streptococci.
Streptococcus viridans, and Staph, albus were also grown from 588 of
the utensils examined, only 27 yielded no growth of any kind. These
organisms, although not pathogenic in themselves, are an indication of
the degree of possibility of infection from mouth and bowel organisms.
Dish-washing Waters.
Thirty-eight samples of dish-washing water were examined: 19 had
counts of more than 1,000.000 organisms per m. at 37° C. and 9 had
counts of more than 1,000.000 organisms per ml. at 22° C. Twenty of the
38 had considerably more organisms growing at 37° C. than at 22° C.—
the approximate proportion being 120: 1—suggesting the presence of a
much higher number of organisms of animal than of soil or dust
origin. As the average crude sewage in this country contains approximately
1.000,000 to 5.000.000 organisms per ml. at 37° C. (Topley and
Walson. 1946), it is seen that the majority of the dishes are being
washed in water that bacteriologically is equivalent to sewage.
Twenty-three of the 38 waters had more than 1.800 coliform bacilli
Present per 100 ml. The Ministry of Health standard for a potable
water varies according to the origin, but is ideally no coliform bacilli in
100 ml., and waters are "satisfactory" only if they have not more than
2 coliform organisms per 100 ml. Hence, these waters used for washing
utensils. most of which are to be placed in the mouth, would appear
to be entirely unfit for such a purpose.
Owing to the difficulty of obtaining soaps and soda 11 of the 38 waters
contained no detergent. In others soda had been generally added, but
in varying Proportions—a handful or so being thrown in at random,
That the addition of soda is of value is shown by the following:
With PH range 7—10 67% waters had bacterial counts greater than
1,000,000 organisms per ml.