Enterococcus

Enterococcus is a genus of bacteria that encompasses various species, some of which can significantly impact human health and cause disease. Here is an overview of how Enterococcus interacts with human health:

1. Opportunistic infections: Some Enterococcus species, such as E. faecalis and E. faecium, can cause opportunistic infections, primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals or patients with underlying health conditions. These infections can involve the urinary tract, bloodstream, endocardium, and surgical wounds.¹Chilambi GS, Nordstrom HR, Evans DR, Ferrolino JA, Hayden RT, Marón GM, Vo AN, Gilmore MS, Wolf J, Rosch JW, Van Tyne D. Evolution of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium during colonization and infection in immunocompromised pediatric patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 May 26;117(21):11703-11714. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1917130117.²Van Tyne D, Gilmore MS. Raising the Alarmone: Within-Host Evolution of Antibiotic-Tolerant Enterococcus faecium. mBio. 2017 Feb 21;8(1):e00066-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00066-17.³Honsa ES, Cooper VS, Mhaissen MN, Frank M, Shaker J, Iverson A, Rubnitz J, Hayden RT, Lee RE, Rock CO, Tuomanen EI, Wolf J, Rosch JW. RelA Mutant Enterococcus faecium with Multiantibiotic Tolerance Arising in an Immunocompromised Host. mBio. 2017 Jan 3;8(1):e02124-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02124-16.
2. Nosocomial infections: Enterococcus species are known to cause hospital-acquired infections, often associated with contaminated medical devices, catheters, or surgical sites. Implementing strict infection control measures in healthcare settings is crucial to prevent their spread.⁴Guzman Prieto AM, van Schaik W, Rogers MR, Coque TM, Baquero F, Corander J, Willems RJ. Global Emergence and Dissemination of Enterococci as Nosocomial Pathogens: Attack of the Clones? Front Microbiol. 2016 May 26;7:788. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00788.⁵Remschmidt, C., Schröder, C., Behnke, M. et al. Continuous increase of vancomycin resistance in enterococci causing nosocomial infections in Germany − 10 years of surveillance. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 7, 54 (2018). doi: 10.1186/s13756-018-0353-x⁶hang, Y., Du, M., Chang, Y. et al. Incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of nosocomial Enterococcus spp. bloodstream infections in a tertiary-care hospital in Beijing, China: a four-year retrospective study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 6, 73 (2017). doi: 10.1186/s13756-017-0231-y
3. Antibiotic resistance: Enterococcus species, particularly E. faecium, can develop antibiotic resistance, complicating the treatment of infections. Some strains exhibit resistance to vancomycin (VRE), a last-resort antibiotic, necessitating the use of alternative treatments.⁷Rashid R, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Gao IH, Nair ZJ, Kumar JK, Gao L, Kline KA, Wenk MR. Comprehensive analysis of phospholipids and glycolipids in the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 19;12(4):e0175886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175886.⁸Ramos S, Silva V, Dapkevicius MLE, Igrejas G, Poeta P. Enterococci, from Harmless Bacteria to a Pathogen. Microorganisms. 2020 Jul 25;8(8):1118. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8081118.

In summary, Enterococcus bacteria play a complex role in human health, with most species causing opportunistic and nosocomial infections. Understanding and addressing the risks associated with the presence of Enterococcus species in your microbiome sample is vital for protecting the delicate balance of your gut microbial ecosystem.

Where to find Enterococcus in the Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test

You will find your Enterococcus scores in the “Pathogens” report in your Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Test results. Guidance on how to work with pathogens like Enterococcus will be featured in your Personal Action Plan. Please note that this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider if you have any questions about Enterococcus.

Synonyms: Antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus species, Enterococcus infection

Important disclaimer

The Chuckling Goat Gut Microbiome Handbook is an educational resource built to translate complex science into plain English. The information provided on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your GP or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Always check with your GP for interactions with medications/health conditions before changing your diet or starting to take food supplements.

References

• 1
  Chilambi GS, Nordstrom HR, Evans DR, Ferrolino JA, Hayden RT, Marón GM, Vo AN, Gilmore MS, Wolf J, Rosch JW, Van Tyne D. Evolution of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium during colonization and infection in immunocompromised pediatric patients. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2020 May 26;117(21):11703-11714. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1917130117.
• 2
  Van Tyne D, Gilmore MS. Raising the Alarmone: Within-Host Evolution of Antibiotic-Tolerant Enterococcus faecium. mBio. 2017 Feb 21;8(1):e00066-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00066-17.
• 3
  Honsa ES, Cooper VS, Mhaissen MN, Frank M, Shaker J, Iverson A, Rubnitz J, Hayden RT, Lee RE, Rock CO, Tuomanen EI, Wolf J, Rosch JW. RelA Mutant Enterococcus faecium with Multiantibiotic Tolerance Arising in an Immunocompromised Host. mBio. 2017 Jan 3;8(1):e02124-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02124-16.
• 4
  Guzman Prieto AM, van Schaik W, Rogers MR, Coque TM, Baquero F, Corander J, Willems RJ. Global Emergence and Dissemination of Enterococci as Nosocomial Pathogens: Attack of the Clones? Front Microbiol. 2016 May 26;7:788. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00788.
• 5
  Remschmidt, C., Schröder, C., Behnke, M. et al. Continuous increase of vancomycin resistance in enterococci causing nosocomial infections in Germany − 10 years of surveillance. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 7, 54 (2018). doi: 10.1186/s13756-018-0353-x
• 6
  hang, Y., Du, M., Chang, Y. et al. Incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of nosocomial Enterococcus spp. bloodstream infections in a tertiary-care hospital in Beijing, China: a four-year retrospective study. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 6, 73 (2017). doi: 10.1186/s13756-017-0231-y
• 7
  Rashid R, Cazenave-Gassiot A, Gao IH, Nair ZJ, Kumar JK, Gao L, Kline KA, Wenk MR. Comprehensive analysis of phospholipids and glycolipids in the opportunistic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 19;12(4):e0175886. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175886.
• 8
  Ramos S, Silva V, Dapkevicius MLE, Igrejas G, Poeta P. Enterococci, from Harmless Bacteria to a Pathogen. Microorganisms. 2020 Jul 25;8(8):1118. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms8081118.

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