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Enterococcus faecalis – formerly classified as part of the group D Streptococcus system – is a Gram-positive, commensal bacterium inhabiting the gastrointestinal tracts of humans. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] Like other species in the genus Enterococcus , E. faecalis is found in healthy humans and can be used as a probiotic.
Important clinical infections caused by Enterococcus include urinary tract infections (see Enterococcus faecalis), bacteremia, bacterial endocarditis, diverticulitis, meningitis, and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. [4] [8] [9] Sensitive strains of these bacteria can be treated with ampicillin, penicillin and vancomycin. [10]
Many former group D streptococci have been reclassified and placed in the genus Enterococcus (including E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. durans, and E. avium). [22] For example, Streptococcus faecalis is now Enterococcus faecalis. E. faecalis is sometimes alpha-hemolytic and E. faecium is sometimes beta hemolytic. [23]
Bacteria of the genus Enterococcus, formerly known as group D streptococci, were classified as members of the genus Streptococcus until 1984 and are included in the original Lancefield grouping. [4] Many—but not all—species of streptococcus are beta-hemolytic.
Enterococcus faecium has been a leading cause of multi-drug resistant enterococcal infections over Enterococcus faecalis in the United States. Approximately 40% of medical intensive care units reportedly found that the majority, respectively 80% and 90.4%, of device-associated infections (namely, infections due to central lines, urinary drainage catheters, and ventilators) were due to ...
Representative genera include Enterococcus, Melissococcus, Pilibacter, Tetragenococcus, and Vagococcus. In this family are some important lactic acid bacteria which produce lactic acid as the major metabolic end product.
The combination of daptomycin and ampicillin is another option to treat VRE infections, especially for bacteremia. [19] For invasive vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis infections, both ampicillin-ceftriaxone and ampicillin-gentamicin combinations have been used successfully, with the latter specifically showing success in treating endocarditis. [20]
Common organisms are E. coli (70-80%) and Enterococcus faecalis. Hospital-acquired infections may be due to coliform bacteria and enterococci, as well as other organisms uncommon in the community (e.g., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and various species of Klebsiella). Most cases of pyelonephritis start off as lower urinary tract infections, mainly ...