Enterococcus species

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Enterococcus /
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Background

Microbiology

  • Genus of facultative anaerobic, non-spore-forming, alpha- or gamma-hemolytic, catalase negative, Gram-positive cocci
  • Grows on bile esculin agar
  • PYR positive
  • Most are Lancefield group D
  • Commensal gut flora
  • Increasing antibiotic resistance

Species

  • E. faecalis
    • More common (90-95%)
    • More commonly genitourinary source
    • More susceptible to antibiotics
  • E. faecium
    • Less common (5-10%)
    • More commonly gastrointestinal source
    • Less susceptible to antibiotics
    • Most common VRE
  • E. gallinarum
  • E. casseliflavus
  • E. hirae, a rare zoonotic pathogen from chickens that can cause bacteremia and endocarditis

Vancomycin Resistance

  • Vancomycin binds to d-Ala-d-Ala pentapeptids, interfering with cell wall synthesis
  • VanA: most common. Mutation to d-Ala-d-Lac, leading to high resistance to glycopeptides.
  • VanB: more common in E. faecium in Australia
  • VanC: chromosomal resistance on E. gallinarum and E. casseliflavus

Management

VRE

References

  1. ^  James H. Jorgensen, Sharon A. Crawford, Cynthia C. Kelly, Jan E. Patterson. In VitroActivity of Daptomycin against Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci ofVarious Van Types and Comparison of Susceptibility TestingMethods. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 2003;47(12):3760-3763. doi:10.1128/aac.47.12.3760-3763.2003.