Question: what is the difference between coliform and non coliform bacteria?
Answer: Coliform bacteria are Gram negative & ferment lactose. Any other genera are,therefore,Non Coliform bacteria,for example Salmonella & Shigella. ... Coliform mature lactose and are non pathogenic, non-coliform don't age lactose and are pathogenic (genuine pathogens). They are subcategories of the Family Enterobacteriaceae.