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.
Licensed for use, ASM MicrobeLibrary.