Monitoring of selected bacteria and fungi in sand and sea water along the Tel Aviv coast.

Monitoring sand and sea water of the Mediterranean Tel Aviv beaches during 1989-1991 for bacterial quality showed varying data and no correlation between standard bacteria parameters (SBP) and potential pathogenic bacteria (PPB). An exceptional feature was observed in 1989 when faecal coliforms including Escherichia coli and faecal Streptococcus were less in sand than in sea water. These results may be attributed to the low turbulent activity of the sea in 1989, particularly in summer, compared with the next two years.

Improved m-Enterococcus agar for counting faecal streptococci in sea water.

An improved medium for counting faecal streptococci in sea water is described. The medium was based on m-Enterococcus agar with the addition of 20 mg/l colistin sulphate and 10 mg/l oxolinic acid. There was no inhibition of faecal streptococci counts from sea water by the addition of these antibiotics.