Abstract
Enterococci are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which usually inhabit the alimentary tract of humans in addition to being isolated from environmental and animal sources. They are able to survive a range of stresses and hostile environments, including those of extreme temperature (5-65 degrees C), pH (4.5-10.0) and high NaCl concentration, enabling them to colonize a wide range of niches. Virulence factors of enterococci include the extracellular protein Esp and aggregation substances (Agg), both of which aid in colonization of the host. The nosocomial pathogenicity of enterococci has emerged in recent years, as well as increasing resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics. Understanding the ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus species is important for limiting urinary tract infections, hepatobiliary sepsis, endocarditis, surgical wound infection, bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis, and also stemming the further development of antibiotic resistance.
Highlights
Katie Fisher and Carol PhillipsUniversity of Northampton, School of Health, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK
For many years Enterococcus species were believed to be harmless to humans and considered unimportant medically
In 2005 there were 7066 reported cases of bacteraemia caused by Enterococcus species in the UK, an 8 % increase from 2004, with the Health Protection Agency (2007) stating that ‘an increase in a bacteraemia causing pathogen like this has not been observed for some time’
Summary
University of Northampton, School of Health, Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, Northampton NN2 7AL, UK. Enterococci are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which usually inhabit the alimentary tract of humans in addition to being isolated from environmental and animal sources. They are able to survive a range of stresses and hostile environments, including those of extreme temperature (5–65 6C), pH (4.5”10.0) and high NaCl concentration, enabling them to colonize a wide range of niches. The nosocomial pathogenicity of enterococci has emerged in recent years, as well as increasing resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics. Understanding the ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus species is important for limiting urinary tract infections, hepatobiliary sepsis, endocarditis, surgical wound infection, bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis, and stemming the further development of antibiotic resistance
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