Indicators of fecal pollution in streams located in the itaqui-bacanga District, São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

Escherichia coli is a pathogenic microorganism that can be introduced into the human body through contaminated water and food, causing gastrointestinal or urinary tract infections, being a bioindicator of water quality and risk to human health. The aim of the present research was to analyze the water quality of streams located in the Itaqui-Bacanga district using bacteriological indicators and establish a correlation between cause and effect considering the housing conditions, sanitation, healthcare aspects of local residents. The Vila Isabel neighborhoods, which is drained by Macaca Creek, had better sanitation and housing conditions but presented the worst indicators of water quality due to disordered urban growth as well as a lack of sanitary and environmental awareness, which are factors that contribute considerably to the aggravation of health problems in the local population.