Table 2. E. coli Detection among Environmental Pathways.

type of sample	N	unit	lower detection limit (MPNa)	upper detection limit (MPNa)	geometric mean (MPNa)	% positive
soil	591	1 dry gram	1000–1515b	2.4 × 106 to 3.7 × 106b	125 530	95
ponds	277c	100 mL	100	241 900	5918	97
tubewells	563	100 mL	1	2419	1	25
flies	193d	1 fly	100	241 900	663	50
child hands	584	2 hands	5	12 095	7	43
stored water	497	100 mL	1	2419	9	77
food	549	1 dry gram	1–8e	2426–20 158e	2	58

^aMPN: Most probable number.

^bCorresponds to lower limit of 1000 MPN and upper limit of 2 419 000 MPN per wet gram given soil moisture content range of 0–34%.

^cApproximately half of households reported accessing a pond (typically to wash dishes and clothes).

^dA fly was captured in one-third of households.

^eCorresponds to lower limit of 1 MPN and upper limit of 2419 MPN per wet gram given food moisture content range of 3–88%.