Enterococcus
Please note: This is for information only.
Refer to local guidelines for treatment recommendations
- Gram-positive coccus (similar to streptococci)
- Part of the normal flora of the gut
- Intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics
- Usually a low grade pathogen causing opportunistic infections
Main clinical infections:
- UTI
- Intra-abdominal sepsis (usually as part of a polymicrobial infection)
- Line-related bacteraemia
- Endocarditis
Usually sensitive to:
- Amoxicillin (Enterococcus faecalis)
- Piptazobactam/Imipenem (Enterococcus faecalis)
- Vancomycin*
- Teicoplanin*
- Linezolid
- Synercid (Enterococcus faecium)
Usually resistant to:
- Amoxicillin (Enterococcus faecium)
- Piptazobactam/Imipenem (Enterococcus faecium)
- Cephalosporins
- Aminoglycosides (amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin)
- Macrolides (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
- Quinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin)
- Clindamycin
- Metronidazole
- Synercid (Enterococcus faecalis)
- *Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) may be found in some high risk units (haematology, renal, ITU)