What Is Enterococcus Faecalis?

Enterococcus faecalis is Gram-positive and hydrogen peroxide-negative cocci. It originally belonged to Streptococcus, and because of its low degree of homology to other Streptococci, even less than 9%, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were separated from Streptococcus and classified as Enterococcus. Enterococcus faecalis is a facultative anaerobic gram-positive lactic acid bacteria. The morphology of the bacterium is globular or chain-like, with a diameter of no capsular or spores. Many antibiotics such as kanamycin and gentamicin do not have strict growth conditions ^[1] . It can use arginine as energy, ferment sorbitol, and do not ferment arabinose. Folic acid is not required for growth on simple media ^[2] .

Taxonomically,

1. Characteristics of the bacteria

Gram-positive cocci, negative contact enzyme test, growing in 65% NaCl, bile esculin test positive, growing at 45 ° C ^[5]

Enterococcus faecalis is distributed in the environment of livestock and poultry breeding and production and processing of livestock and poultry products. It exists in the upper respiratory tract, digestive tract, and reproductive tract of humans and animals, and is widely distributed in nature. ^[6]

The "Catalogue of Feed Additives (2013)" specifies Enterococcus faecalis as a strain that can be added to feed. Enterococcus faecalis has a protective barrier effect. Enterococcus faecalis can form on intestinal epithelial cells

Enterococcus faecalis can cause iatrogenic infections, the most common of which is a urinary tract infection (mostly related to urethral device operation, urinary catheterization, etc.). Followed by abdominal and pelvic trauma and postoperative infections ^[5] .