Enterococcus

About

• Commensal of the gastrointestinal tract
• Very similar to streptococci - used to be called strep group D
• Usually haemolytic to some degree.
• Two main types: E. faecalis and E. faecium

Pathology

• Endocarditis
• UTIs
• Wound Infections
• Abscesses

Treatment

• Unlike strep, there is widespread resistance to penicillin.
• There are also glycopeptide resistant ones, called "vancomycin resistant enterococci" (VRE)