BIOL 230 Lecture Guide - Enterococcus in Blood

Enterococcus faecalis in a Blood Culture

Enterococcus species are normal glora of the intestinal tract. Enterococcus faecalis frequently causes infections within the peritoneal cavity, especially following penetrating trauma such as gunshot wounds, knife wounds, and surgical wounds, urinary tract infections, kidney infections, prostate infections, and infections of damaged or compromised skin, such as diabetic or decubitus ulcers, burns, and surgical wounds. Other opportunistic fecal streptococci include E. faecium and E. durans. The enterococci have become the second most common bacterium isolated from nosocomial urinary and wound infections, and the third most common cause of nosocomial bacteremia. Furthermore, the enterococci are among the most antibiotic resistant of all bacteria, with some isolates resistant to all known antibiotics. Note gram-positive streptococci.

Image: Enterococcus faecalis in a Blood Culture. © Gloria Delisle and Lewis Tomalty, authors.
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