Enterococcus faecium & faecalis
Gram ⊕Gram-positive cocci in chains/pairs
Enterococcus (faecalis/faecium)
Gut bug: bile-esculin +, grows in 6.5% NaCl, hardy — UTIs, biliary, and VRE.
🎬 The Hardy Gut Survivor
Tough enough to live in bile and salt
Scene illustration coming soon.
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Gut floraNormal colonic flora (entero = intestine). Group D streptococci.
🔗 Lives in the gut.
🔬 Identification
- •GPC in pairs/chains, catalase –.
- •Group D; bile-esculin POSITIVE.
- •Grows in 6.5% NaCl (Enterococcus) — non-enterococcal group D does NOT.
- •Variable hemolysis (usually γ/non-hemolytic).
🦠 Disease
- •UTIs (especially catheter-associated).
- •Biliary tract infections.
- •Subacute endocarditis after GI/GU procedures.
⚠️ Resistance (VRE)
- •Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (E. faecium > faecalis) — vanA alters peptidoglycan to D-ala-D-lac.
- •Treat VRE with linezolid or daptomycin.
🧠 Mnemonics
Entero = Enter the gutNormal gut flora that seeds UTIs, biliary tract, and endocarditis after instrumentation.
Bile + Salt tolerant = EnterococcusBile-esculin + AND 6.5% NaCl growth = Enterococcus (salt growth excludes S. gallolyticus).
🩺 Classic boards tip-off
Subacute endocarditis after a colonoscopy or GU procedure → Enterococcus. Hospitalized patient with vancomycin-resistant GPC → VRE.
Lesson Info
- Duration
- 4 minutes
- Status
- Completed
- Topic
- Microbiology
- Unit
- Bacteria
