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 Enterococcus faecalis as viewed through a scanning electron microscope
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| Enterococcus faecalis (Orla-Jensen 1919) Schleifer & Kilpper-Bälz 1984 |
Enterococcus faecalis – formerly classified as part of the Group D Streptococcus system – is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium inhabiting the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other mammals.1 It is among the main constituents of some probiotic food supplements.2 A commensal organism like other species in the genus Enterococcus, E. faecalis can cause life-threatening infections in humans, especially in the nosocomial (hospital) environment, where the naturally high levels of antibiotic resistance found in E. faecalis contribute to its pathogenicity.1
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Physiology
E. faecalis is a non-motile microorganism and facultatively anaerobic; it ferments glucose without gas production, and does not produce a catalase reaction with hydrogen peroxide. E. faecalis displays gamma hemolysis (γ-hemolysis). It produces a reduction of litmus milk, but does not liquefy gelatin. Growth of nutrient broth is consistent with being facultatively anaerobic.
Pathogenesis
E. faecalis can cause endocarditis, as well as bladder, prostate, and epididymal infections; nervous system infections are less common.13
Antibacterial resistance
E. faecalis is resistant to many commonly used antimicrobial agents (aminoglycosides, aztreonam, cephalosporins, clindamycin, the semi-synthetic penicillins nafcillin and oxacillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Resistance to vancomycin is also becoming more common.45 Exposure to cephalosporin is a particularly important risk factor for colonization and infection with enterococci.
Historical
Prior to 1984, enterococci were members of the genus Streptococcus: thus E. faecalis was known as Streptococcus faecalis.6
References
- ^ a b c Ryan KJ, Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology (4th ed. ed.). McGraw Hill. pp. 294––5. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
- ^ E.g. ThreeLac and FiveLac: see [1].
- ^ Pelletier LL (1996). Microbiology of the Circulatory System. in: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al, eds.) (4th ed. ed.). Univ of Texas Medical Branch. ISBN 0-9631172-1-1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?highlight=Lancefield&rid=mmed.section.5077.
- ^ Amyes SG (May 2007). "Enterococci and streptococci". Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 29 Suppl 3: S43–52. doi:. PMID 17659211. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0924-8579(07)72177-5.
- ^ Courvalin P (January 2006). "Vancomycin resistance in gram-positive cocci". Clin. Infect. Dis. 42 Suppl 1: S25–34. doi:. PMID 16323116. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/491711?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- ^ Schleifer KH; Kilpper-Balz R (1984). "Transfer of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus faecium to the genus Enterococcus nom. rev. as Enterococcus faecalis comb. nov. and Enterococcus faecium comb. nov". Int. J. Sys. Bacteriol. 34: 31–34.
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