Application d'une nouvelle technologie de détection enzymatique pour le suivi en quasi-temps réel de la dynamique d'Escherichia coli dans des eaux récréatives

Fecal contamination of freshwaters remains one of the main causes of waterborne diseases worldwide. Recreational waters' regulations vary between countries but most of them fix beach action values in concentrations of Escherichia coli, which is still considered as the best faecal indicator organism. However, current techniques recommended for the monitoring of the microbiological quality of surface waters are essentially based on culture, with inherent long delays of at least 18h between sampling and results. Moreover, sporadic sampling is most often recommended by regulations, limiting the acquisition of knowledge on dynamics and fate of faecal contaminations detected. Some entirely automated and rapid technologies (results in less than 4h) for the online enzymatic detection of E. coli have then been designed.