Enterococcus
Enterococcus
Enterococcus (pronunciation: en·te·ro·coc·cus) is a genus of gram-positive, facultative anaerobic organisms. They are a part of the normal intestinal flora in a variety of animals, and are often found in hospital environments.
Etymology
The term "Enterococcus" is derived from the Greek words "entero", meaning intestine, and "coccus", meaning spherical bacteria.
Description
Enterococci are typically commensal organisms in the gut, but can also cause serious infections, particularly in the urinary tract, bloodstream, and wounds. They are known for their resistance to many antibiotics, including vancomycin, which is often used as a last resort treatment for resistant bacterial infections.
Related Terms
- Gram-positive bacteria: A group of bacteria that give a positive result in the Gram stain test.
- Facultative anaerobic organisms: Organisms that can survive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments.
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE): A type of enterococcus that has developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin.
- Urinary tract infection (UTI): An infection that affects any part of the urinary system.
- Bloodstream infection: An infection that occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream.
- Wound infection: An infection that occurs in a wound.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Enterococcus
- Wikipedia's article - Enterococcus
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