Enterococci has become a necrotizing "flesh eating" bacteria
Enterococci are Gram-positive cocci which often occur in pairs (diplococci) and are difficult to distinguish from
Streptococci on physical characteristics alone. Two species are common commensal organisms in the intestines of
humans: E. faecalis and E. faecium. Enterococci are facultative anaerobic organisms, i.e. they prefer the use of
oxygen, but they can survive in the absence of oxygen
In the last two decades, particularly virulent strains of Enterococcus which are resistant to vancomycin
(Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, or VRE) have emerged in nosocomial infections of hospitalized patients
especially in the US. Other developed countries such as the UK have been spared this epidemic, and in 2005,
Singapore managed to halt an epidemic of VRE
Important clinical infections caused by Enterococcus include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, bacterial endocarditis,
diverticulitis, and meningitis. Sensitive strains of these bacteria can be treated with ampicillin and vancomycin.[3]
From a medical standpoint, the most important feature of this genus is their high level of endemic antibiotic resistance.
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Enterococcus
Enterococcus: Bacteria normally found in the feces of people and many animals. Two types of enterococci --
Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium --occasionally cause human disease, most commonly urinary tract
infections and wound infections. Other infections, including those of the blood stream (bacteraemia), heart valves
(endocarditis) and the brain (meningitis) can occur in severely ill patients in hospitals. Enterococci also often colonize
open wounds and skin ulcers.
Enterococci are among the most common antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The first vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
(VRE) was found in 1986. Since that time, VRE has become a growing problem. Bacteria resistant to vancomycin are
commonly also resistant to a similar antibiotic called teicoplanin, and vice versa.
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