Enterococcus faecalis
| Enterococcus faecalis | |
|---|---|
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| Enterococcus faecalis as viewed through a scanning electron microscope | |
| Scientific classification | |
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| Species: | E. faecalis
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| Binomial name | |
| Enterococcus faecalis (Orla-Jensen 1919)
Schleifer & Kilpper-Bälz 1984 | |
Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive commensal bacterium inhabiting the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and other mammals.[1] Like other species in the genus Enterococcus, E. faecalis can cause life-threatening infections in humans and monkeys, especially in the nosocomial (hospital) environment: the naturally high levels of antibiotic resistance found in E. faecalis contribute to its pathogenicity.[1] E. faecalis presents as a non-motile microorganism that is facultatively anaerobic, it ferments glucose without gas production, and does not produce a catalase reaction with hydrogen peroxide. 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.[1][2]
E. faecalis is resistant to many commonly used antimicrobial agents (aminoglycosides, aztreonam, cephalosporins, clindamycin, the semi-synthetic penicillins nafcillin and oxacillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). Exposure to cephalosporins 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.[3]
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.
{{cite book}}:|author=has generic name (help);|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ 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.
{{cite book}}:|edition=has extra text (help) - ^ 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.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
External links
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