Enterococcus species

Microbiology

• Facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming, gamma-hemolytic, Gram positive diplococci

Background

• Commensal gut flora
• Increasing antibiotic resistance

Species

• E. faecalis
  • More common (90-95%)
  • More commonly genitourinary source
  • More sensitive to antibiotics
• E. faecium
  • Less common (5-10%)
  • More commonly gastrointestinal source
  • Less sensitive to antibiotics
  • Most common VRE