Skip to main content
PMC home page
Applied Microbiology logoLink to Applied Microbiology
. 1974 May;27(5):938–943. doi: 10.1128/am.27.5.938-943.1974

Membrane Filter Method for the Isolation and Enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from Swimming Pools

M H Brodsky 1, M C Nixon 1
PMCID: PMC380181  PMID: 4208514

Abstract

A membrane filter technique using black membrane filters, MacConkey agar and fluorescence under ultraviolet (UV) light was investigated for the quantitative isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from swimming pools. Three thousand four hundred forty-five samples were collected from public swimming pools and enumerated by this method over a 6-month period. Fluorescent cultures were isolated from 222 specimens. Seventy-seven of these fluorescent cultures were selected for biochemical screening, with 75 (97%) being verified as P. aeruginosa. To further assess the specificity and sensitivity of this UV screening technique, a comparative study was made of some morphological and biochemical characteristics of fluorescent pseudomonads obtained from different sources. The sensitivity of the method was unimpaired by either colony types or biochemical variations of P. aeruginosa. The failure of the other two fluorescent species, P. fluorescens and P. putida, to grow and/or fluoresce on MacConkey agar at 37 C illustrates the specificity of this technique. Further studies are needed to compare the viability of P. aeruginosa on MacConkey agar to that of efficacious nonselective media.

Full text

PDF
940

Images in this article

942Image
on p.942

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Black A. P., Keirn M. A., Smith J. J., Jr, Dykes G. M., Jr, Harlan W. E. The disinfection of swimming pool water. II. A field study of the disinfection of public swimming pools. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1970 Apr;60(4):740–750. doi: 10.2105/ajph.60.4.740. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Brodsky M. H., Nixon M. C. Rapid method for detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa on MacConkey agar under ultraviolet light. Appl Microbiol. 1973 Aug;26(2):219–220. doi: 10.1128/am.26.2.219-220.1973. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Brown M. R., Foster J. H. A simple diagnostic milk medium for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Clin Pathol. 1970 Mar;23(2):172–177. doi: 10.1136/jcp.23.2.172. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. COLWELL R. R. A STUDY OF FEATURES USED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA. J Gen Microbiol. 1964 Nov;37:181–194. doi: 10.1099/00221287-37-2-181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Drake C. H. Evaluation of culture media for the isolation and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Health Lab Sci. 1966 Jan;3(1):10–19. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FAVERO M. S., DRAKE C. H. COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MICROBIAL FLORA OF IODINATED AND CHLORINATED POOLS. Public Health Rep. 1964 Mar;79:251–257. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Fitzgerald G. P., DerVartanian M. E. Pseudomonas aeruginosa for the evaluation of swimming pool chlorination and algicides. Appl Microbiol. 1969 Mar;17(3):415–421. doi: 10.1128/am.17.3.415-421.1969. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Geldreich E. E., Jeter H. L., Winter J. A. Technical considerations in applying the membrane filter procedure. Health Lab Sci. 1967 Apr;4(2):113–125. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Gilardi G. L. Characterization of Pseudomonas species isolated from clinical specimens. Appl Microbiol. 1971 Mar;21(3):414–419. doi: 10.1128/am.21.3.414-419.1971. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hoadley A. W., Ajello G. Some characteristics of fluorescent pseudomonads isolated from surface waters and capable of growth at 41C. Can J Microbiol. 1972 Nov;18(11):1769–1773. doi: 10.1139/m72-274. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Lambe D. W., Jr, Stewart P. Evaluation of Pseudosel agar as an aid in the identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Microbiol. 1972 Feb;23(2):377–381. doi: 10.1128/am.23.2.377-381.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Levin M. A., Cabelli V. J. Membrane filter technique for enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Appl Microbiol. 1972 Dec;24(6):864–870. doi: 10.1128/am.24.6.864-870.1972. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Pickett M. J., Pedersen M. M. Characterization of saccharolytic nonfermentative bacteria associated with man. Can J Microbiol. 1970 May;16(5):351–362. doi: 10.1139/m70-062. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Young L. S., Armstrong D. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. CRC Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 1972 Sep;3(3):291–347. doi: 10.3109/10408367209151698. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Applied Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES