Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Enterococcus”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Isolation of three strains of beta-lactamase-producing Enterococcus faecalis in Argentina.

Of the 90 strains of Enterococcus spp. isolated in an Argentine laboratory in the period from January to July 1989, three were identified as beta-lactamase-producing Enterococcus faecalis. According to the literature reviewed, these appear to be the first beta-lactamase-positive strains of Enterococcus isolated outside the USA. They differed from most beta-lactamase-producing strains already described in that they were susceptible to low concentrations of macrolides. All three strains were resistant to high concentrations of aminoglycosides.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed1997

Enterococcus cecorum septicemia in a malnourished adult patient.

Enterococcus cecorum, a species typically isolated from chicken, pigs, calves, horses, ducks, cats, dogs, and canaries, was isolated from the blood of a patient with severe septicemia. The isolate was identified by conventional biochemical tests. Identity as Enterococcus cecorum was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis of whole cell protein. This is the first report of the isolation of Enterococcus cecorum in a clinical setting.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Identification of clinically important species of Enterococcus within 1 day with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

The use of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) for rapid, reliable, and easily interpreted identification of enterococci was evaluated. Nineteen type strains of Enterococcus, 12 reference strains, and 114 clinical isolates of Enterococcus were analyzed. Discrimination was obtained between most type strains, the exceptions being Ent. casseliflavus and Ent. flavescens, which had relatively similar RAPD-profiles. Ent. faecalis and Ent. faecium were readily separated, and Ent. gallinarum and Ent. durans could also be identified. Extracts to be used in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were prepared directly from agar plate colonies, which made it possible to complete the identification procedure in one day. RAPD was proved to be a fast and reliable method for identification of most Enterococcus spp. of clinical significance.

Enterococcus↗
PubMed2001

Photobiological activity of exogenous and endogenous porphyrin derivatives in Escherichia coli and Enterococcus hirae cells.

Photodynamic treatment, the combined application of a photosensitiser and visible light, represents a new and promising approach for the inactivation of microorganisms. The photosensitising potentials of exogenous zinc-phthalocyanine-tetrasulphonate (ZnPsTS), tetraphenylporphyrins (TPPs) and endogenous porphyrin derivatives were tested and compared on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, Escherichia coli B. and Enterococcus hirae, respectively. The synthesis of endogenous porphyrins was induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA). The porphyrin- or delta-ALA-treated cells were irradiated with white light. The photosensitising efficiency of endogenous derivatives on both types of bacteria is ZnPcTS < TP(4-OGluOH)3P < TP(4-OGluOH)4P. However, neither exogenous derivatives exhibit appreciable photosensitising activity for disinfection application. ALA-induced photodynamic treatment showed good potential for the inactivation of Escherichia coli cells, but not towards Enterococcus hirae cells. The failure of photosensitisation of the Enterococcus hirae strain selected indicates that apart from the Gram-positive character, other structural elements of the membrane can influence the result of photodynamic treatments.

Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation↗
PubMed2006

Risk factors for bacteriuria due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus spp in patients hospitalized via the emergency department.

To determine the incidence and risk factors related to isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Enterococcus spp from urine cultures obtained from patients in the emergency department (ED), a 1-year prospective study was conducted of all urine specimens collected in the ED of a general hospital. Specimens from which one of these organisms was isolated at a concentration of >or=10(5) cfu/ml were included. Of 744 positive urine cultures, 39 (5%) were P. aeruginosa and 28 (4%) Enterococcus spp. Comparison with a control cohort of 80 patients with Escherichia coli bacteriuria revealed several univariate indicators for P. aeruginosa bacteriuria, including male sex, indwelling catheter, past prostatectomy, hospitalization in the previous 2 months and pregnancy; multivariate indicators were indwelling catheter (p<0.001) and male sex (p<0.001). Enterococcus and P. aeruginosa were significantly more often associated with asymptomatic bacteriuria. These data will help clinicians select appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients with urinary tract infections.

Bacteriuria↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiological, microbiological, clinical, and prognostic factors of bacteremia caused by high-level vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species.

A case-control study was performed between 1994 and 1996 in order to study the epidemiological, microbiological, clinical, and prognostic features of high-level vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia. Seventeen consecutive patients who had clinically significant bacteremia due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci (vanA genotype: 16 Enterococcus faecalis, 1 Enterococcus faecium) were compared with 169 who had vancomycin-susceptible enterococcal bacteremia. The following were selected by multivariate analysis as independent risk factors that influenced the development of high-level vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia: prior glycopeptide therapy (P=0.049); inclusion in a hemodialysis program (P=0.046); prior therapy with corticosteroids or antineoplastic agents (P=0.029); and prior surgical treatment (P=0.022). The following other factors were selected by univariate analysis: tracheostomy (P=0.002); prolonged hospitalization (P=0.01); and any kind of puncture (P=0.02). The crude associated-mortality rate was 13.4%. Gene amplification of vanA was positive for 17 strains of enterococci. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA after SmaI digestion of vanA isolates revealed that one strain predominated (10 isolates), though at least four similar banding patterns were identified (6 isolates). The 16 strains closely related to the outbreak were investigated further. The surgical intensive care unit was the first and most involved service. The hospital outbreak of vanA vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia occurred between 1994 and 1995 and was caused by Enterococcus faecalis. This is believed to be the first and only such outbreak described in a Spanish hospital thus far.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Surveillance of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in hospitals in Ibaraki prefecture.

We surveyed the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) in six hospitals in Ibaraki prefecture. Three hundred and fifty-five fecal specimens were examined and 18 Enterococcus intermediately resistant to vancomycin were isolated. All of them were vanC genotypes (16 vanC-1 and 2 vanC-2 genotypes) and susceptible or intermediately resistant to ampicillin, teicoplanin, linezolid, and quinupristin-dalfopristin. Neither the vanA nor vanB gene was detected. Two of the vanC genotypes were not motile. We concluded that VRE of either VanA or VanB phenotype or those highly resistant to the antibiotics commonly used against enterococcal infection were not epidemic in this prefecture to date. In addition, we consider that detection of vancomycin-resistant genes should be encouraged for the characterization of VRE, because the vanC genotypes are occasionally motility-negative and can be misinterpreted as other Enterococcus species.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Antimicrobial activity of everninomicin against clinical isolates of Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Streptococcus spp. tested by Etest.

The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of everninomicin, a novel oligosaccharide antibiotic, was tested against clinical isolates of 11 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains, 11 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, 22 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains, 23 Enterococcus faecalis strains, 23 Enterococcus faecium strains, 23 Enterococcus avium strains, 27 Streptococcus pneumoniae strains, 22 Streptococcus pyogenes strains, and 20 Streptococcus agalactiae strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of everninomicin were determined by Etest and compared with those of vancomycin, teicoplanin, and minocycline. The Etest showed that everninomicin exhibited excellent activity (MIC, <0.016 to 1.5 microg/ml) against the gram-positive cocci tested. The antimicrobial activity of everninomicin against S. aureus and S. epidermidis was stronger than that of vancomycin, teicoplanin, and minocycline, in particular against MRSA, with an MIC50 of 0.38 microg/ml and an MIC90 of 0.5 microg/ml. Against strains of enterococci and streptococci, everninomicin was more active than vancomycin, but as active as teicoplanin.

Aminoglycosides↗
PubMed2005

Sensitivity to detergents and plasmid curing in Enterococcus faecalis.

This research reports the sensitivity of a clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecalis to sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate (sarkosyl) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), as well as the efficiency of these detergents in curing the strain. Compared to Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis was very sensitive to both detergents, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for the latter being 100 times lower than for Escherichia coli. The clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecalis used in this study exhibited plasmid-borne resistance to kanamycin (MIC 2 mg/ml) and tetracycline (MIC 50 mug/ml); 3% curing was observed after growth in the presence of sarkosyl but no curing was observed after growth in the presence of either SDS or acridine orange. In contrast, 35% curing of plasmid-bearing Escherichia coli was observed after growth in the presence of either SDS or acridine orange, but none was observed after growth in the presence of sarkosyl.

Acridine Orange↗
PubMed1994

Sequence of the vanB and ddl genes encoding D-alanine:D-lactate and D-alanine:D-alanine ligases in vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis V583.

A pair of degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotides was used to amplify, by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), DNA fragments internal to genes encoding D-Ala:D-Ala ligase-related proteins of vancomycin-resistant (VmR) Enterococcus faecalis V583. Cloning and nucleotide sequencing of the PCR products indicated that fragments of two genes, designated vanB and ddl, were co-amplified. The vanB gene was previously shown to be present in Enterococcus strains expressing VanB-type VmR [Quintiliani Jr. et al., J. Infect. Dis. 8 (1993) 943-950]. The ddl gene was detected by Southern hybridization in all VmR and VmS strains of En. faecalis, but not in representatives of 17 other species of Enterococcus. The vanB and ddl genes were cloned in bacteriophage lambda and sequenced. There was extensive similarity (76% amino-acid identity) between the product of vanB and the VmR protein, VanA. The product of ddl, the D-Ala:D-Ala ligases, DdlA and DdlB, of Escherichia coli and the resistance proteins, VanA and VanB, were more distantly related (32-40% aa identity). After induction of VmR, En. faecalis V583 synthesized the cell wall precursor, UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-tetrapeptide-D-lactate, indicating that the mechanism of glycopeptide resistance in strains with the VanA and VanB phenotype is similar.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Emerging multiply resistant enterococci among clinical isolates. I. Prevalence data from 97 medical center surveillance study in the United States. Enterococcus Study Group.

To assess the evolving problem of therapeutic drug resistances among enterococci, we organized a comprehensive national (United States) surveillance trial using 99 recruited microbiology laboratories in 48 of the 49 contiguous states or districts. All but two sites completed the protocol that generated information from nearly 2000 enterococci, usually isolated from blood cultures. All strains were speciated by the same method (API 20S) and were susceptibility tested by three methods (broth microdilution, disk diffusion, and Etest) against ampicillin, penicillin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, gentamicin, and streptomycin. Strains resistant to a glycopeptide or penicillin, or possessing high-level aminoglycoside resistance were referred to the monitor's laboratory for validation and additional susceptibility testing against other alternative antimicrobial agents. The most common species were Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium. However, antimicrobial resistance occurred most often among the E. faecium isolates. Twenty-three percent of participant centers (22 sites) reported 87 vancomycin-resistant isolates, which accounts for 4.4% of the isolates evaluated. A recent audit (March 1994) of the laboratories not reporting vancomycin resistance during the study interval (October-December 1992) revealed that 61% of sites have now recognized these strains, a threefold increase in 12-15 months. Teicoplanin remained active against 28% (Van B phenotype) of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (10 E. faecalis, 13 E. faecium, and one Enterococcus spp.). Ampicillin-resistant beta-lactamase-positive strains were found only at one medical center (two strains, 0.2% of referred or validated strains); however, ampicillin-resistant strains represented 12% of all enterococcal, but nearly 60% of E. faecium strains.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

The presence of Enterococcus, coliforms and E. coli in a commercial yeast manufacturing process.

This study evaluated a typical commercial yeast manufacturing process for bacterial contamination. Product line samples of a commercial yeast manufacturing process and the corresponding seed yeast manufacturing process were obtained upstream from the final compressed and dry yeast products. All samples were analysed before (non-PI) and after preliminary incubation (PI) at 37 degrees C for 24 h. The PI procedure was incorporated for amplification of bacterial counts below the lower detection limit. Enterococcus, coliform and Escherichia coli counts were quantified by standard pour-plate techniques using selective media. Presence at all stages and progressive increases in counts of Enterococcus, coliforms and E. coli during processing in the commercial manufacturing operation suggested that the primary source of contamination of both compressed and dry yeast with these bacteria was the seed yeast manufacturing process and that contamination was amplified throughout the commercial yeast manufacturing process. This was confirmed by surveys of the seed yeast manufacturing process which indicated that contamination of the seed yeast with Enterococcus, coliforms and E. coli occurred during scale up of seed yeast biomass destined as inoculum for the commercial fermentation.

Colony Count, Microbial↗
PubMed2005

Characterization of a 3944 Da bacteriocin, produced by Enterococcus mundtii ST15, with activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Strain ST15, isolated from soy beans, and identified as Enterococcus mundtii, produces a 3944 Da bacteriocin that inhibits the growth of Lactobacillus sakei, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Propionibacterium sp., Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Acinetobacter baumanii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus caprinus. Bacteriocin ST15 is inactivated by proteinase K, pronase, pepsin, protease and Triton X-114, but not when treated with catalase, alpha-amylase, Triton X-100, SDS, Tween 20, Tween 80, urea and EDTA. No change in activity was recorded after 2 h at pH values between 2.0 and 12.0, and after treatment at 100 degrees C for 90 min. Activity was, however, lost after treatment at 121 degrees C for 20 min. The mode of activity is bactericidal. The highest level of activity (51200 AU ml(-1)) was recorded when cells were grown in MRS broth, pH 6.5. Bacteriocin ST15 differs from other broad-spectrum bacteriocins described for Enterococcus spp. by being active against Gram-negative bacteria and by being smaller.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2006

Genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity in Enterococcus isolates from Batzos, a raw goat milk cheese.

This study investigated the genotypic and phenotypic diversity in 34 isolates of enterococci obtained during ripening of Batzos cheese from raw goat milk and characterized phenotypically as Enterococcus durans. RAPD-PCR, plasmid profiling and PFGE were used to study the genetic variability and distinguish closely related isolates. Species recognition by means of RAPD-PCR was in agreement with the phenotypic identification for 29 strains. One strain was characterized as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis by RAPD-PCR and four strains were grouped with the Enterococcus faecium reference strain. All strains were vancomycin sensitive, while 10 strains showed beta-haemolytic reaction on human blood and the majority of them (88.9%) showed decarboxylase activity on tyramine. All strains exhibited antagonistic activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes and the majority inhibited Enterococcus faecalis. Isolates displayed weak acidifying ability and low proteolytic activities when grown in milk for 24h. However, their caseinolytic activity after growth in milk for seven days was significant with preference for alphas-casein degradation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Antimicrobial effect, in vitro, of gutta-percha points containing root canal medications against yeasts and Enterococcus faecalis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility of Enterococcus faecalis and the most prevalent Candida species as therapy-resistant microorganisms to gutta-percha points containing root canal medications. STUDY DESIGN: Gutta-percha points containing calcium hydroxide (Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points), chlorhexidine diacetate (Activ Points), or calcium hydroxide-chlorhexidine combinations (CHX/Ca Combi Points) were tested for their ability to inhibit growth of pure cultures of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Candida tropicalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Enterococcus faecalis. Approximately 2 x 10(7) microorganisms per assay were suspended in diluted human serum and co-incubated with the gutta-percha points placed in Eppendorf tubes in an incubator for up to 2 weeks. A tube was removed at 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 14 days, and then opened and microorganism suspensions were serially diluted in a sterile 0.9% NaCl solution. Aliquots of the dilution steps were streaked onto solid medium. After incubating the plates in an incubator at 37 +/- 1 degrees C for 48 hours, CFU numbers per milliliter of suspension were calculated. RESULTS: Calcium Hydroxide Plus Points or Activ Points did not exhibit sufficient antimicrobial or anticandidal activity for Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, or C. tropicalis within 14 days. Only Saccharomyces cerevisiae was susceptible to the calcium hydroxide or chlorhexidine diacetate containing gutta percha points. CHX/Ca Combi Points killed C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and S. cerevisiae completely. However, E. faecalis and C. parapsilosis were resistant to CHX/Ca Combi points within 14 days. CONCLUSION: The results show the gutta percha points containing a mixture of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine diacetate have efficacies superior to calcium hydroxide or chlorhexidine diacetate alone against some microorganisms except E. faecalis and C. parapsilosis.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2001

Development of glucosidase agar for the confirmation of water-borne Enterococcus.

Analysis of 56 river water samples by the Enterolert defined substrate technique, and standard m-Enterococcus agar isolation followed by confirmation, indicated that after 24 h incubation. Enterolert significantly underestimated the true numbers of enterococci. Extending Enterolert incubatioin to 36 h improved detection but also revealed false positives. These findings prompted the development of a novel confirmation medium we have termed glucosidase agar, which was prepared by dissolving Enterolert substrate in 2% (w/v) bacteriological agar. Analysis of 1,043 colonies arising on m-Enterococcus agar from 280 freshwater, marine and sewage effluent samples, demonstrated that 2-4 h incubation on glucosidase agar was a rapid and accurate means of confirming presumptive enterococci, when compared to standard confirmation procedures that take 48 h. The combination of primary isolation on m-Enterococcus agar followed by confirmation on glucosidase agar permits maximum recovery of Enteroccus whilst effectively eliminating false positives/negatives and provides a reliable alternative use of the Enterolert defined substrate technology.

Agar↗
PubMed2004

Phenotypic and genetic diversity of Lactococcus lactis and Enterococcus spp. strains isolated from Northern Spain starter-free farmhouse cheeses.

To evaluate a previous phenotypic classification of lactococci, 39 presumed lactococcal strains were classified by molecular techniques. The strains were also subjected to several typing techniques to estimate the phenotypic and genetic diversity present in original populations from starter-free farmhouse cheeses. Partial Amplified rDNA Restriction Analysis (partial ARDRA) with either restriction enzyme MboII or HhaI divided these isolates into four distinctive groups. Sequencing of representative amplicons identified 29 isolates as belonging to Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis (24) and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris (5). The remaining 10 isolates were shown to be Enterococcus durans (8) and Enterococcus faecalis (2), which were misclassified by the traditional tests. Thus, partial ARDRA was successfully used to classify wild Lactococcus-like strains into Lactococcus and Enterococcus species. The technique also allowed differentiation of L. lactis strains at subspecies level. The 29 strains of L. lactis showed five different fermentation profiles, four distinct Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles, and 14 unrelated profiles by both Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analyzed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (RFLP-PFGE) and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Using the same techniques, the 10 enterococcal strains showed four fermentation profiles, four RADP, and six by RFLP-PFGE and SDS-PAGE, respectively. Several typing techniques, especially RFLP-PFGE and SDS-PAGE, revealed wide phenotypic and genetic variability in both the lactococcal and enterococcal isolates. Two simple, rapid and cheap techniques (partial ARDRA and SDS-PAGE) are proposed as reliable tools for the classification and typing of new lactococcal-like isolates.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed2004

[Post operative Enterococcus faecalis endophthalmitis: three case report].

We report three cases of endophthalmitis following cataract extraction. Enterococcus faecalis was the causative organism in all of them. Initial visual acuity was only light perception in all cases, final visual acuity was negative light perception in two cases, and light perception in one case. After initial improvement, inflammation was exacerbated in one patient and evisceration realized. The capsular bag was examined using scanning electron microscopy and it was shown that enterococci were adherent to the capsular bag, four months after the onset of the infection. Enterococcus faecalis can be the causative agent both of an acute and a chronic form of post operative endophthalmitis. Experimental studies on rabbit eyes could explain the poor prognosis of these endophtalmitis and focused on bacterial toxins. The contamination appears to be post operative, because Enterococcus faecalis is not a commensal agent of the conjunctiva. So we have to inform our patients about some hygienic habits, to prevent from this devastating complication of cataract surgery.

Aged↗