Survival of Enterococci facalis in estuarine sediments

A laboratory-based microcosm study was conducted to assess the survival of Enterococci faecalis in the estuarine sediments of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, USA. The survival curves of E. faecalis were characterized by a growth phase followed by a stationary phase, a logarithmic decay period, and/or finally by a tailing region. The usual exponential decay model could not be applied to E. faecalis survival in the estuarine sediments. The estuarine sediments appeared to stimulate E. faecalis reproduction within 10 days of incubation. Furthermore, the estuarine sediments prolonged the survival of E. faecalis for a period of at least a month under the study conditions. Based on research results, the amount of organic matter and nutrients did not significantly affect the survival of E. faecalis in the estuarine sediments. This outcome may have occurred due to the small sample size. Throughout the duration of the 45 day experiment, relatively the same proportion of E. faecalis remained culturable. Therefore, the estuarine sediments appear to provide a favorable environment for E. faecalis.