NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Enterococcus

Enterococcus is a genus of lactic acid bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. Members of this genus were classified as Group D Streptococcus until 1984 when genomic DNA analysis indicated that a separate genus classification was appropriate.^[1] For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species L. acidophilus L. bulgaricus L. plantarum L.reuteri etc. ... Phylum (plural: phyla) is a taxon used in the classification of animals, adopted from the Greek phylai the clan-based voting groups in Greek city-states. ... Classes Bacilli Clostridia Mollicutes The Firmicutes are a division of bacteria, most of which have Gram-positive cell wall structure. ... Streptococcus, a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. ...

Enterococci are Gram-positive cocci which often occur in pairs (diplococci) and are difficult to distinguish from Streptococci on physical characteristics alone. Two species are common commensal organisms in the intestines of humans: E. faecalis (90-95%) and E. faecium (5-10%). Enterococci are facultative anaerobic organisms, i.e. they prefer the use of oxygen, but they can survive in the absence of oxygen.^[2] They typically exhibit gamma-hemolysis on sheep's blood agar. Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by gram staining, in contrast to gram-negative bacteria, which are not affected by the stain. ... coccus (plural - cocci) are any spherical or near spherical bacteria. ... A diplococcus is a round bacterium (a coccus) that typically occurs in pairs of two joined cells. ... Streptococcus, a genus of spherical, Gram-positive bacteria of the phylum Firmicutes. ... Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ... Enterococci, traditionally viewed as Gram-positive commensal bacteria inhabiting the alimentary canals of humans and animals, are now acknowledged to be organisms capable of causing life-threatening infections in humans, especially in the nosocomial (hospital) environment. ... A facultative anaerobic organism is an organism, usually a bacterium, that makes ATP by aerobic respiration if oxygen is present but is also capable of switching to fermentation under anaerobic conditions. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Atomic mass 15. ...

Pathology

Important clinical infections caused by Enterococcus include urinary tract infections, bacteremia, bacterial endocarditis, diverticulitis, and meningitis. Sensitive strains of these bacteria can be treated with ampicillin and vancomycin.^[3] A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. ... Bacteremia (BacterÃ¦mia in British English, also known as blood poisoning or toxemia) is the presence of bacteria in the blood. ... Endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner layer of the heart, the endocardium. ... Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel, in particular the large intestine. ... Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges, caused by microorganisms that have spread into the blood and into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). ... Ampicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that has been used extensively to treat bacterial infections since 1961. ... Vancomycin (INN) (IPA: ) is a glycopeptide antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. ...

From a medical standpoint, the most important feature of this genus is their high level of endemic antibiotic resistance. Some Enterococci are intrinsically resistant to β-lactam-based antibiotics (some penicillins and virtually all cephalosporins) as well as many aminoglycosides.^[4] In the last two decades, particularly virulent strains of Enterococcus which are resistant to vancomycin (Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus, or VRE) have emerged in nosocomial infections of hospitalized patients especially in the US. Other developed countries such as the UK have been spared this epidemic, and in 2005, Singapore managed to halt an epidemic of VRE. VRE may be treated with Quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid) with response rates of approximately 70%.^[5] Antibiotic resistance is the ability of a micro-organism to withstand the effects of an antibiotic. ... Penicillin nucleus Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN) refers to a group of Î²-lactam antibiotics used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually Gram-positive, organisms. ... The cephalosporins, are a class of Î²-lactam antibiotics. ... Aminoglycosides are a group of antibiotics that are effective against certain types of bacteria. ... SEM micrograph of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. ... A nosocomial infection is an infection that is caused by staying in a hospital. ...

Enterococcal meningitis is a rare complication of neurosurgery. It often requires treatment with intravenous vancomycin; intrathecal vancomycin is often used and it is debatable whether this has any impact on outcome. The removal of any neurological devices is a crucial part of the management of these infections.^[6] Vancomycin (INN) (IPA: ) is a glycopeptide antibiotic used in the prophylaxis and treatment of infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria. ... Intrathecal: Delivered into the spinal canal (intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord), as in a spinal anaesthesia. ...

Water quality

In bodies of water, the acceptable level of contamination is very low, for example in the state of Hawaii, with among the strictest tolerances in the United States, the limit for water off its beaches is 7 colony forming units per 100 ml of water, above which the state may post warnings to stay out of the ocean.^[7] In 2004, Enterococcus spp. took the place of fecal coliform as the new federal standard for water quality at public beaches. It is believed to provide a higher correlation than fecal coliform with many of the human pathogens often found in sewage.^[8] This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Fecal coliforms are bacteria that ferment lactose to produce acid and gas at 44. ...

References

^ Schleifer KH; Kilpper-Balz R (1984). "Transfer of Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus faecium to the genus Enterococcus nom. rev. as Enterococcus faecalis comb. nov. and Enterococcus faecium comb. nov.". Int. J. Sys. Bacteriol. 34: 31–34.
^ Fischetti VA; Novick RP; Ferretti JJ; Portnoy DA; Rood JI (editors) (2000). Gram-Positive Pathogens. ASM Press. ISBN 1-55581-166-3.
^ Pelletier LL Jr. (1996). Microbiology of the Circulatory System. In: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al, eds.), 4th ed., Univ of Texas Medical Branch. (via NCBI Bookshelf) ISBN 0-9631172-1-1.
^ Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology, 4th ed., McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.
^ Tünger A, Aydemir S, Uluer S, Cilli F (2004). "In vitro activity of linezolid & quinupristin/dalfopristin against Gram-positive cocci". Indian J Med Res 120 (6): 546-52. PMID 15654141.
^ Guardado R, Asensi V, Torres J, Pérez F, Blanco A, Maradona J, Cartón J (2006). "Post-surgical enterococcal meningitis: clinical and epidemiological study of 20 cases". Scand J Infect Dis 38 (8): 584-8. PMID 16857599.
^ Clean Water Branch. Hawaii State Department of Health. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
^ Jin G, Jeng H, Bradford H, Englande A (2004). "Comparison of E. coli, enterococci, and fecal coliform as indicators for brackish water quality assessment". Water Environ Res 76 (3): 245-55. PMID 15338696.

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Water quality

References

Pathology