Enterococci are Gram-positive, catalase-negative, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobicbacteria, which usually inhabit the alimentary tract of humans in addition to being isolated fromenvironmental and animal sources. They are able to survive a range of stresses and hostileenvironments, including those of extreme temperature (5–65 6C), pH (4.5”10.0) and highNaCl concentration, enabling them to colonize a wide range of niches. Virulence factors ofenterococci include the extracellular protein Esp and aggregation substances (Agg), both ofwhich aid in colonization of the host. The nosocomial pathogenicity of enterococci hasemerged in recent years, as well as increasing resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics.Understanding the ecology, epidemiology and virulence of Enterococcus species is importantfor limiting urinary tract infections, hepatobiliary sepsis, endocarditis, surgical wound infection,bacteraemia and neonatal sepsis, and also stemming the further development of antibioticresistance
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